Portland Trail Blazers star Wesley Matthews suffered a ruptured Achilles on Thursday night and has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
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Matthews tore his left Achilles tendon on Thursday as per a team statement, after he was seen being helped off the court after suffering the injury in the 94-75 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
The 28-year-old went down without any contact when he attempted to drive two minutes into the third quarter, and he immediately grabbed for his left Achilles while grimacing in pain on the floor.
The Blazers medical staff attended to him on the court before he was taken back to the locker room, and it is expected that he will have surgery in the coming days.
Matthews has averaged 16.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game so far this season, and while he has started all 59 games, the Blazers will now need to find a way to survive without him ahead of the playoffs.
The Portland starter is in the final year of his five-year contract that he signed back in 2010, and so the injury couldn’t have come at a worse time as he looks to play his way into getting a new deal with the franchise.
While his health will undoubtedly take priority initially, he will be determined to return next season in Portland, if the organisation keep faith in him and offer him a new contract.
Nevertheless, it is another serious injury suffered in the NBA as several stars continue to be ruled out of action for a significant period of time.
Matthews’ injury will only further strengthen the argument that the schedule needs to be eased, as Portland will now look for more impact from their bench players on a deep roster.
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