Matisse Thybulle, a guard/forward for the Portland Trail Blazers, sustained an injury during a game on Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz. He grabbed his left wrist in pain after a tough fall on a fast break. This injury occurred towards the end of the first quarter. Thybulle then left the game at the start of the second quarter, causing panic that he’d re-injured himself right away.
On Thursday, Thybulle had surgery to repair an ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, the Sixers announced. In Portland’s Friday game against the Dallas Mavericks, Thybulle was held out due to a calf injury. He’ll be assessed again in four to six weeks. Such a timeline would indicate he’ll miss at least a few games as he recovers from the surgery.
Thybulle has struggled during the early part of this season, averaging five points and one rebound per contest. His contributions on the court have been somewhat minimal. This was particularly the case after he missed a ton of time last season due to knee and ankle injuries. Despite these challenges on the injury front, he emerged as a significant defensive contributor during the second half of last season. He recorded a staggering 33 steals and nine blocks during his last 15 games.
Now with Thybulle ineligible, the Trail Blazers will need to change their game strategy and oppressors. His game changing defensive prowess really inspired the whole team last year. Losing him would be a serious blow to their competitiveness in the future quarterfinal games.
As Thybulle enters the rehabilitation phase of his recovery, fans and teammates alike will be eager to monitor how he progresses. His speedy return will be welcomed by all on the team. His floor generalship offensively and tenacity defensively are going to be key to their continued success this season.
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