The Portland Trail Blazers announced on Tuesday that guard CJ McCollum will be out of action for an indefinite time after being diagnosed with a collapsed lung. While McCollum was initially believed to be suffering from a rib contusion, the real nature of his injury was revealed by a CT scan.
The 30-year-old’s injury came during the last quarter of his team’s 145-117 loss to the Boston Celtics on Saturday evening. While initially listed as probable for the Trail Blazer’s game against the LA Clippers on Monday night, McCollum ended up not making an appearance in the team’s 102-90 loss.
McCollum’s injury is the latest in a series of setbacks currently faced by the Trail Blazers. Currently, Portland is without All-Star Damian Lillard, who has missed the last four games due to lower abdominal tendinopathy. Forward Nassir Little has also missed four games with a left ankle sprain, while Anfernee Simons and Cody Zeller remain unavailable with a right ankle sprain and a bruised right quad respectively. Guard Ben McLemore is currently recovering from a bruised hip that he incurred during the loss to the Clippers.
Portland next faces the Minessota Timberwolves on Tuesday night. They currently sit in 11th place on the Western Conference standings.
