PORTLAND — In a physical game, the most important play came without any contact.
Wesley Matthews is out for the season with a torn left Achilles tendon, the Blazers announced after their 94-75 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.
He injured the Achilles in the third quarter on a fast break when he tried to push off the foot. He instantly fell to the ground and stayed there, looking like he was in shock. He didn’t put any weight on the leg as he was helped off the court.
Although the update hadn’t come until after the game, everyone seemed to already know the fate suffered by Matthews, even the referee.
“It feels like some kicks you,” Matthews said. “I was praying. I was praying as soon as I was back there. I was back there and I heard Ron (Garretson), the ref, he knew.”
“It’s disbelief,” Matthews said. “I’m sitting up there in that tube. I don’t hear the noise. I don’t feel my Achilles. I can’t believe I’m up there while my team is battling. I just haven’t processed all of it yet.”
Nicolas Batum’s face looked extremely concerned immediately after the injury, appearing to describe what he saw to assistant coach David Vanterpool. After the game, he admitted he instantly feared for the worst for his teammate for five seasons, his locker room neighbor and good friend.
“It’s so unfair,” Batum said. “A lot of things come to my mind. I don’t care about our team. I don’t care about basketball. It’s just, it’s unfair. He didn’t deserve that.”
“I’m frustrated,” Matthews said. “You say everything happens for a reason, I was just in the tube, thinking what was this reason? I can’t find it right now. It’s bigger than me.”
For Batum, the Blazers have to ramp up their play both to respect Matthews and try to cover up for his absence.
“The way he give 100 percent every night since 2010 now for us, we can’t relax now,” Batum said. “Guys got to step up now. We got to step up now. We all got to step up. Out of respect for him we can’t relax and lay down. We have to play now.”
LaMarcus Aldridge and Batum both notched double-doubles with 12 rebounds on a balanced offensive effort for the Blazers which was buoyed by their defense.
After being outplayed for the majority of Wednesday’s game, the Blazers bench did a good job of getting back into the game without Aldridge and Damian Lillard on the floor.
The Mavericks had a more balanced attack, going 10 deep into their bench. Rajon Rondo, who did not play in either of the first two meetings, got off to a good start getting other Mavericks players involved.
Defensively, the Mavericks switched their tactics on Aldridge all night long.
The game was a sloppy one, with one team coming off a three day lay-off and the other coming off a grueling win 24 hours before.
Neither team shot above 40 percent in the first half and both teams were bit by the turnover bug. Both teams combined for a total of 18 first half turnovers with the Blazers committing 10.
Neither team could buy a bucket from the outside in the first half either.
The Blazers were 2-of-12 from deep while the Mavericks were just as inefficient, going 1-for-8.
The Mavericks were 2-for-16 from long range for the game.
Lillard, who had a terrible 1-for-13 night on Wednesday, was once again without a field goal in the first half.
Immediately after Matthews was carried off, Lillard’s offensive game came to life.
Lillard scored a quick eight points in the blink of an eye and the Blazers continued playing aggressive team defense.
The Mavericks couldn’t get very good shots and the Blazers were suffocating in executing their defensive scheme. The Mavericks had little airspace to get off three-pointers and the Blazers help was excellent.
Although Aldridge was hot early, the Blazers had a more balanced attack as the night went on.
Without Matthews in the game, the Blazers went deep into their bench with Alonzo Gee as well as CJ McCollum, who hadn’t seen regular playing time since Arron Afflalo was activated.
Gee made some hay with backdoor cuts and leaking out in transition for dunks.
The Blazers continued their excellent defense against the Mavericks as all of their key contributors in the starting line-up had bad shooting nights.
Dirk Nowitzki, Monta Ellis and Rajon Rondo combined to go 15-for-56 from the field.
