The Los Angeles Lakers know what it’s like to play without a key starter and now the Portland Trail Blazers know what it’s like to play without a key contributor as well, something they will have to get used to for the remainder of their postseason run.
Portland’s starting power forward for all of the games in the NBA bubble, Zach Collins, will require season-ending surgery to repair a malleolar stress reaction in his left ankle, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Portland’s Zach Collins will require season-ending ankle surgery, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 21, 2020
The Blazers have started undrafted rookie Wenyen Gabriel in Collins’ place in the first two games of the first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers. Gabriel has drawn the assignment of guarding Anthony Davis for the majority of his minutes, but the Blazers have gone more often to a two-center look, playing Jusuf Nurkic together with Hassan Whiteside.
In Game 2, Anthony Davis punished the Blazers for their strategy by being aggressive against Gabriel. Lakers starting center JaVale McGee was also crucial in the win, contributing five offensive boards, as the Lakers continue to dominate Portland on the glass.
Game 3 is on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. pacific on ABC.
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