Portland Trail Blazers forward Jabari Walker has entered concussion protocol, Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups told reporters Friday afternoon.
During Portland’s 114-113 overtime home loss to the New York Knicks Wednesday, Walker exited the game at the 7:30 mark of the fourth quarter. On the play before the substitution, Walker caught an elbow to the face from Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns as Towns drove to the basket for a layup. The refs didn’t call a foul on the play, forcing the Blazers to call a timeout to get Walker out of the game.
“Jabari is in concussion protocol, even though it was marginal contact on the play, allegedly,” said Billups, miming air-quotes with his right hand as he delivered the word “marginal” and shaking his head at the end. “But, yeah, he’s in protocol, and we’ll just see how it goes.”
Regarding other injuries on the roster, Billups said Portland forward Jerami Grant didn’t practice Friday, and he wasn’t sure about Grant’s availability status at the moment. Grant has missed the last two games due to right knee tendinitis.
Billups also discussed the status of Blazers center Deandre Ayton, who is still out with a left calf strain. When the Blazers announced Ayton’s calf strain diagnosis on Feb. 12, the organization said he’d be re-evaluated in four weeks.
“I did hear that he’s healing pretty good,” Billups said. “But he’s not doing anything on the court.”
Although Matisse Thybulle and Robert Williams III didn’t check into the game Wednesday against New York, both players were available to play after missing time due to injuries. Billups said both players looked good during Friday’s practice.
You can read our full coverage of the discussion Friday about Thybulle’s return — which includes a conversation with Thybulle — here.