Conley set for surgery today
Griz head into Game 4 against Portland without starting point guard
PORTLAND, Ore. — Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley will undergo surgery today to repair multiple facial fractures, a source told The Commercial Appeal.
Conley will not play tonight in Game 4 of a first-round playoff series with the Portland Trail Blazers. There is no timetable for his return to the court.
But Conley seemed upbeat before returning to Memphis to have the procedure near his left eye.
“I’ll be good,” Conley wrote in a text message Sunday afternoon before he boarded a plane, while his teammates held a light practice to prepare for an attempt at a sweep.
Memphis took a 3-0 lead in the bestof-seven series after beating Portland 115-109 on Saturday night in Game 3.
Conley was hurt with four minutes left in the third quarter of Game 3. He was hit by an inadvertent elbow from Blazers guard C.J. McCollum while going after a loose ball.
Conley fell to his knees and appeared disoriented for several minutes before the team’s athletic trainer helped him to the locker room. Conley was taken to a local medical facility before the game ended in the Moda Center.
Griz coach Dave Joerger said Sunday that he didn’t want to speculate on Conley’s possible return until learning the
extent of the injury.
“He’s got the biggest heart and he’s a true leader. He’s a winner,” Joerger said. “It’s a big blow, but we’ll know a lot more tomorrow.”
Backup point guard Beno Udrih said he would attempt to play tonight after sitting out Game 3 with a sprained right ankle.
Reserve guard Nick Calathes, who played well in place of Udrih in Game 3, also will play more in Game 4. Calathes scored 13 points to go with four rebounds and three assists in 27 minutes Saturday.
The Griz are 8-4 without Conley this season.
“Everybody has to just pick it up and there has to be a little bit more focus in every single area,” Joerger said. “Every possession is going to matter.”
Teammates visited Conley before he departed Portland and said he was upbeat but extremely sore.
Conley’s left eye is swollen.
“I’m pretty sure that wasn’t his decision to go back. I’m pretty sure he wanted to play,” Griz swingman Tony Allen said. “But I’m sure the team values his injury more than a will to play. He’s been battling injuries all year, so for him to go back is surprising.”
Conley already is bothered by a sprained right foot. He’s played this season with two ankle sprains, a wrist injury, and neck and back spasms.
“It’s unfortunate what happened, but he will be fine,” Griz center Marc Gasol said. “I’m sure as soon as he feels he can be out there, he’ll be out there. Trust me. He’ll do anything he can to be out there. And if he can’t, he can’t. I was with him (Sunday) morning. He’ll be fine. There’s nothing we can do about his look. But he’ll heal.”
Tip-in: If the Memphis-Portland series concludes in six or fewer games, the Golden State-Griz Western Conference semifinal series will move up and begin in Oakland, California, on Sunday. If the Memphis-Portland series takes seven games, Golden State will host the winner beginning May 5.
Everybody has to just pick it up and there has to be a little bit more focus in every single area. Every possession is going to matter.” Dave Joerger, Grizzlies coach