Robin Lopez Fractures Hand as Blazers Top Spurs

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Andrew R Tonry, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Robin Lopez's right hand pretty well wrapped up: pic.twitter.com/SRiNlsMGmX
— Sean Michael Meagher (@sean2m) December 16, 2014

Battling for a rebound in the third quarter, Robin Lopez banged his right hand against the back of Boris Diaw's head. Immediately Lopez looked and attended to his hand. Moments later, calmly, he motioned to the Blazers bench that he was hurt, and needed to come out. He was brought directly to Portland's locker room and did not return.

After the game coach Terry Stotts announced that Lopez suffered a fractured hand. Lopez, his hand wrapped, told reporters that, though he wasn't sure, he thought there were two breaks.

Coach Stotts said that will be out "a while." He will be reevaluated Tuesday. Lopez has yet to miss a game as a Blazer.

Photo of the injury (excuse the humorous caption):

Robin Lopez hurt his hand punching Boris Diaw in the back of the head worth it IMHO pic.twitter.com/KGq7fhERjU
— Dane Carbaugh (@danecarbaugh) December 16, 2014

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UPDATE: Lopez's own reaction via Twitter:

Two positives: 1. We got a deep squad 2. Lots of love from the chicks #IGotThisWrasslinABear #NeverSayDie #RIPCITY pic.twitter.com/D68bEXsdpV
— Robin Lopez (@rolopez42) December 16, 2014

Plus, a transcript of his postgame remarks via the Trail Blazers.

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UPDATE: (12:52AM, Tuesday)

According to Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski:

"Portland Trail Blazers center Robin Lopez is expected to miss four weeks with a fractured right hand, league sources told Yahoo Sports."

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BLAZERS 108, SPURS 95

Maybe lucky isn't the word, but the Blazers were somewhat fortunate, Monday, as San Antonio rested starters Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Tiago Splitter. Manu Ginobili and Patty Mills were out as well.

So the Blazers were afforded the Spurs' B-team, and Portland took care of business, winning 108-95.

What they didn't get, however, was a true test. Once again, the Blazers caught a playoff team at the right time.

Unfortunately that luck may be flipping, as the Blazers begin a brutal western road-trip Friday in San Antonio, presumably without Lopez.

So, once again, the measuring stick will have to wait.

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GRADES:

NICOLAS BATUM: C-
More of the same old same from Batum, who made just 1-of-5 three-point attempts. He finished with seven points and six assists. Out of the ordinary, however, was the Frenchman's inability to grab a single rebound.

LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE: A-
With the Spurs' core bigs resting, Aldridge boxed the reserves up like lunch meat. Portland's All-Star power forward notched another double-double and went off in the decisive third period, where he scored 14 of his 23 points and grabbed nine of 14 rebounds.

ROBIN LOPEZ: INCOMPLETE
Fighting for a rebound in the third quarter Lopez banged his right hand into the back of Boris Diaw's head. He left and did not return. In the post-game press conference coach Terry Stotts announced that Lopez had suffered a fractured hand and will be out "a while."

WESLEY MATTHEWS B-
Matthews came out scorching, drilling three three-pointers in the first quarter. After that, Spurs defenders zeroed in, keeping Matthews attempts down the rest of the way. He finished with 14 points, 10 of which came in the first.

DAMIAN LILLARD: A
Lillard grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds to go along with 23 points and six assists. Indeed, the recent addition of fierce rebounding is an unexpected but welcome addition to his game. To put it in perspective: imagine LaMarcus Aldridge dishing out 10 assists.

ALLEN CRABBE: B
Another solid performance from Crabbe, who played disruptive defense, displayed with intelligence and poise, avoided mistakes and let the game come to him. He finished with eight points in 14 minutes.

THOMAS ROBINSON A
While little of Robinson's play came as the game hung in the balance, his seven points and three rebounds in nine minutes are more of a feel-good story. Robinson, who has been buried on the bench, saw his first extended action since November 21st. He showed coach Stotts, if nothing else, that he's remaining ready. And with Lopez out, that might be pretty important.

WILL BARTON: C
Also seeing his first meaningful minutes in some time, Barton had a great highlight with a buzzer-beating three to end the first quarter. Otherwise, though, he showed why he's on the bench: he pressed, made mistakes, and played outside of the team's flow.

KILLER TWEET: