Trail Blazers center Joel Przybilla will miss the remaining five games of the season with a broken right hand (second metacarpal), sustained in the second quarter of Portland’s game vs. San Antonio April 6.
“This is all the more unfortunate because Joel had his mind set to play all 82 games this season, and he almost made it happen,” said Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard. “When you look at what he’s accomplished, Joel put his heart and soul into this season, and he gave us his all every night.”
The injury occurred at the 4:43 mark of the second quarter, when Przybilla’s right hand hit the rim while defending a lay-up by the Spurs’ Ime Udoka.
Przybilla, 28, will finish the season with averages of 4.8 points, a career-high 8.4 rebounds, 1.21 blocked shots, 23.6 minutes and a 57.8% field goal percentage in 77 games (67 starts). His rebounding average, blocked shot average and field goal percentage lead the Trail Blazers this season.
The fourth-year Trail Blazer pulled down a career-high 26 rebounds March 22 at the Clippers, tying the franchise record for a regulation game and coming just one shy of the overall record 27.
With 93 blocked shots on the season, Przybilla increased his Portland total to 453, placing him seventh on the team’s all-time ledger.
