The Memphis Grizzlies will be without their best all-around defender after Tony Allen suffered a right calf strain, sidelining him indefinitely, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon.
The veteran shooting guard is unlikely to play in the first round against the San Antonio Spurs, injury which will prove costly for the seventh-seeded Grizzlies.
Allen was injured during Wednesday's 100-93 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, leaving after playing the first five minutes of the outing.
“Hearing me play doctor right now, I don't think it's a big injury or anything like that,” head coach David Fizdale said post-game. “Obviously, it scared the crap out of us when he got kicked. We're going to assess it, see what happens and go from there.”
No official word on Tony Allen injury. @memgrizz hope to know later today, but David Fizdale sounds like it's a fingers crossed thing. pic.twitter.com/PxOCRES2h2
— glenn carver (@GCarver_WREG3) April 13, 2017
The team announced the Second Team All-Defense shooting guard will be closely monitored, “while beginning rehab immediately.” The Grizzlies vowed to provide further updates as they become available.
“It's an unfortunate injury for Tony and the team,” general manager Chris Wallace said via Grizzlies.com. “With treatment and recovery, we hope to get him back as soon as possible.”
The 35-year-old will be sorely missed by the team, as he was expected to handle matchup duties with San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard, an elite defender in his own right who is averaging 24.3 points per game in three games against Memphis.
With Vince Carter manning the small forward position, the Grizzlies are likely to slot Troy Daniels in place of Allen, bolstering the team's three-point shooting instead of his relentless defense.
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