Advertisement

Blazers forward Zach Collins will miss the rest of the season due to ankle surgery

If the Portland Trail Blazers are hoping to upset the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs, they’ll have to do it without Zach Collins. The team announced Friday that Collins would miss the rest of the season due to an ankle injury.

Collins, 22, will require surgery to repair a hairline medial malleolus stress fracture in his left ankle.

It’s the second major injury suffered by Collins this season. Collins missed time during the regular season due to a shoulder injury. He was able to return when the season restarted in the Orlando bubble. Collins averaged 6.3 points and 7.1 rebounds in eight bubble games.

Portland will try to beat the Lakers without Zach Collins

The Trail Blazers already faced a tough task in the first round of the playoffs, but now the team will have to get past the Lakers without Collins. While that will make Portland’s task harder, it’s not impossible for the Trail Blazers to pull off an upset. Collins hasn’t played in either game during the series, but the Trail Blazers still managed to pick up a 100-93 win in Game 1.

Game 2 was a different story, as the Lakers defeated Portland 111-88. Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard dislocated his left index finger in that game, but is expected to be ready to go in Game 3.

More from Yahoo Sports: