Orlando, Florida – Portland Path Blazers Coach Chauncey Billups stated Thursday that rookie heart Donovan Clingan is nearing a return from a gentle left ankle sprain.
Clingan, who missed his fifth recreation Thursday in opposition to the Orlando Magicsuffered the damage on January 14 in a loss in opposition to the Brooklyn Nets When he went limp after making an attempt to dam a shot late within the recreation. He recorded 4 factors, 14 rebounds, two assists and two steals in 22 minutes.
The seventh alternative was excluded for a minimum of every week by the crew The subsequent day after the match. He traveled with the Path Blazers on their three-game highway journey.
“He’s getting nearer,” Billups stated earlier than going through the magic. “He is impatient. If Donovan, he is impatient. He would play even when he is injured. However we now have to attempt to defend him from himself in order for you. He is nice and really shut. “
Clingan is averaging 5.6 factors, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks on 53.7% taking pictures from the sphere in 31 video games with the Path Blazers. He presently ranks twentieth amongst all NBA gamers in complete blocks (48) and is one in every of seven first-year gamers with a number of double-doubles (2).
The 7 ft Beforehand missed seven video games this season from November 25-Dec. 8 and an extra recreation on January 8 with a sprained left knee. He was second within the league in blocks and second within the rookie class in rebounding on the time of this damage on November 23.
Clingan recorded a minimum of one block in his first 17 video games of the season, Fourth longest streak by a rookie in historical past to start out a profession. He handed Corridor of Famer Invoice Walton in November For the longest sequence by a first-year participant in franchise historical past (15).
This text initially appeared on Rookie Wire: Path Blazers Information: Chauncey Billups gives replace on Donovan Clingan
