The Portland Trail Blazers weren't going to let anything ruin the joyous post-game vibes stemming from Chauncey Billups' rousing first victory as a head coach, a dominant 134-105 win over the Phoenix Suns. As Damian Lillard and company doused Billups with a celebratory locker-room shower, though, one player was noticeably absent from the festivities—and could've proven the same for Blazers games in the foreseeable future.
Norman Powell left Saturday's win midway through the second quarter, prematurely ending a personal scoring burst. He quickly hobbled off the floor with 5:43 remaining before halftime, straight into the Moda Center tunnel followed by a team trainer. Portland subsequently announced Powell would miss the game's remainder with an undisclosed left knee injury, and Billups shed no further light on his status after the game other than he'd already undergone MRI.
Good news, though. Not only has Powell avoided serious injury, but he could even be available to play in Monday's game against the LA Clippers.
Blazers get good news on Norman Powell's knee after he left PHX game midway through 2Q.
Official diagnosis is left patellar tendinopathy. He's questionable for tomorrow against LAC. pic.twitter.com/JcIFkggvj0
— Jack Winter (@ArmstrongWinter) October 24, 2021
Powell had 16 points on just eight shots before being forced to the locker room early. Mostly a bystander in the Blazers' dispiriting loss to the Sacramento Kings on opening night, he was a cog from the jump against Phoenix, getting his first bucket after being fed by Jusuf Nurkic on a nice backdoor cut. Powell got into his bag from there, seemingly taking exception to Phoenix checking him with undersized guards Chris Paul and Landry Shamet.
Paul and JaVale McGee had no chance here at stopping Powell from snaking toward the rim for a slick pick-and-roll finish.
A few possessions later, Powell made the six-foot Paul pay from deep for cheating toward the ball when guarding one pass away.
A free agent last summer coming off a career-best season, Powell has stressed his decision to re-up with Portland long-term revolved a lot around Billups' plans to make him a more active, regular part of Portland's offense. After coming over from the Toronto Raptors last season at the trade deadline, he often fell victim to watching Lillard and C.J. McCollum take turns running the show while standing idly in the corner—especially during the Blazers' disappointing loss to the short-handed Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.
The preseason didn't suggest Powell's role would live up to what was promised him in free-agency discussions with Billups and Neil Olshey. The loss to Sacramento, in which Powell took just nine shots despite playing 35 minutes, certainly didn't, either.
But his play on Saturday, no matter how brief, showed Powell really can successfully co-exist in a more variable, random offensive attack that will still be spearheaded by Lillard and McCollum. Whether or not he's ready to play against the Clippers, that's another reason for Portland to celebrate—just like the tenor of Billups' first win and news of Powell avoiding serious injury.
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