Key Portland Trail Blazers Player Injured In Loss To Wizards On Tuesday Night
Fighting to get back into the Play-In Tournament picture in the Western Conference ahead of the All-Star break, the Portland Trail Blazers fell 126-101 at home to the Washington Wizards.
To make matters worse, they also lost Anfernee Simons late in the third quarter due to a right ankle injury.
Simons did not return in the fourth quarter, as the team ruled him out with a right ankle sprain.
Trail Blazers PR: "INJURY UPDATE: Anfernee Simons suffered a right ankle sprain in the 3Q of tonight's game vs. WAS. He will not return."
Simons has been the second-best scoring weapon for Portland all season long, as he has proven to be the perfect complimentary guard alongside Damian Lillard for the Trail Blazers.
Driving to the rim late in the third quarter, Simons pulled up to attempt a floater over Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma and when the young guard landed, his right ankle severely rolled over Kuzma's foot.
On the ground in a lot of pain, Anfernee Simons was eventually helped off the floor by several members of the team's training staff.
Following the game, head coach Chauncey Billups did say that X-rays on Simons' ankle came back negative. It is expected that he will undergo further testing and imaging on Wednesday.
Announced on Tuesday as one of the eight players selected to partake in this season's Three-Point Contest during All-Star Weekend, Simons may very likely have to forfeit his spot in the event due to this ankle sprain.
Playing in a total of 56 games this season, Simons has averaged 21.4 points and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 38.1 percent from three-point range.
This game against Washington was Portland's final game before the All-Star break, as they will not play again until February 23.
The Trail Blazers will enter the All-Star break with a 28-30 record, currently outside of the Top-10 in the Western Conference standings.
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