Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum was helped off the Moda Center floor in the final minute of Portland’s 116-100 win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.
On Monday, the team announced that Batum, who after an MRI has been diagnosed with a right knee contusion, won’t play on Tuesday against the Charlotte Hornets at the Moda Center.
Chris Kaman described what Batum brings to the Blazers by saying: “Hopefully we get him back sooner than later. He’s a big part of this team, everybody knows that.”
Batum is averaging nine oints, eight rebounds and six assists a game in seven games this season in 34 minutes per game. Batum has also been used in tandem with Wesley Matthews against some of the Blazers’ toughest perimeter match-ups.
Charlotte has a well-known tandem of Kemba Walker and Lance Stephenson. But after winning on Friday in double OT, the Hornets lost to the lowly Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center, giving L.A. its first win of the season.
The biggest threat facing the Blazers is Al Jefferson, who averaged 23.5 points per game against the Blazers last season.
Of course there is also questions about who will start in Batum’s place. Dorell Wright has fallen out of the rotation after playing early in the season. Will Barton’s length, rebounding and ball handling could also get him in the starting line-up. Allen Crabbe still hasn’t gotten meaningful time this year but coach Terry Stotts could also go small with C.J. McCollum.
The starting lineup likely won’t be known until just before game time. But the Blazers are going to need someone on the wing to fill 34 productive minutes per game on both ends.
