NBA: Weekly Injury Report

Rudy Gobert - Left Tibia Contusion (11/11): Jazz fans should be letting out a sigh of relief after new reports surfaced that their defensive anchor in Rudy Gobert could be expected back sooner rather than later. The initial time table for Gobert was six weeks but the Jazz staff, including assistant coaches, trainers, and head coach Quin Snyder, all witnessed Gobert participating in basketball-related drills. The Jazz will need Gobert if they look to make it into playoff contention out West. Since Gobert has been out, Utah has allowed 103.5 points per 100 possessions. Couple that with the Jazz limited offense and it's easy to see why Utah currently sits at 10-11. With Gobert back in the lineup he makes things very tough for opposing teams trying to get into the paint.

Jonathan Isaac - Sprained Right Ankle (11/11): The Orlando Magic’s forward prospect Jonathan Isaac is nearing his return to the court. Isaac has been spotted in practice trying to test the limits of his ankle. Although Isaac is just a rookie, he has made his presence felt on the defensive end. The Magic are currently on a nine--game losing streak after one of the best starts of the season. Albeit a small sample, advanced stats show that Isaac has played an integral role in the Magic's success defensively. While the 6’10 forward was on the court, Orlando only gave up 99.7 points per 100 possessions compared to the 110.1 defensive rating while he was off. Right now, Orlando posts a 115.1 defensive rating which is the worst in the league. Jonathan Isaac is only a rookie and it isn’t demanded to do much but it’s his potential that the Magic are looking forward to.

Mike Conley - Left Achilles Soreness (11/14): Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley has been hampered by a nagging Achilles injury since the beginning of the season. The injury has been bothersome so much so that Conley has been shooting an abysmal 38 percent from the field which is well below his career best of 46% just a season ago. The Grizzlies are at their best when Mike Conley is at full strength and with everything surrounding the team thus far, Memphis needs Conley back as soon as possible. Unfortunately, there is no timetable for Conley's return but his evaluation should be coming up within the week. Marc Gasol is reportedly unhappy in Memphis and David Fizdale was just recently relieved of coaching duties so bringing in a leader like Conley could steer the ship in the right direction.

Iman Shumpert - Left Knee Surgery (11/18): Cavaliers two-guard Iman Shumpert was originally diagnosed with left knee soreness during a mid-November evaluation and was expected to miss between five and seven games. Shumpert actually came back prematurely against the Philadelphia Sixers and ended up doing more harm than good. The seven-year veteran will reportedly go arthroscopic knee surgery and is expected to miss between six-to-eight weeks although no official timetable has been set. Despite an early season fumble, the Cavs have been clicking as of late and have won 10 straight games.

Paul Millsap - Left Wrist Ligament Tear (11/19): Denver Nuggets All-Star forward Paul Millsap underwent successful surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist. Millsap is expected to miss three months with the injury but Denver should be able to hold things diem in the coming months until Millsap is back and healthy again. It’s hard to replace Paul's production but Denver isn’t lacking forwards on their depth chart. Kenneth Faried and Mason Plumlee will definitely see an uptick in minutes to cover for Millsap’s absence. The Nuggets start hasn't necessarily been the best currently standing at a record of 11-9. However, there's more than enough time to turn things around.

Patrick Beverly - Right Knee Surgery (11/22): Los Angeles Clippers point guard Patrick Beverley successfully underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a micro-fracture and meniscus in his right knee. The defensive minded point guard’s injury was just another nail in the coffin for a Clippers team that unfortunately can't stay healthy. Beverley was a key piece in the Chris Paul trade which sent Paul from L.A. to Houston. Although Beverley isn't an All-Star he's a tenacious defender and is willing to do whatever it takes to win. With an early season exit for guard Milos Teodosic and now Beverley, the Clippers are cut thin at the lead guard spot. Beverley is out indefinitely and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

John Wall - Left Knee Inflammation (11/24): Washington Wizards guard John Wall is expected out another week while nursing a left knee injury. Wall’s injury surfaced when he went knee-to-knee against the Dallas Mavericks on November 7. The point guard received PRP (platelet-rich plasma) and viscosupplementation injections to combat the inflammation. Although Washington has experienced great regular season success due to their terrific starting unit, it's the lack of depth off the bench that has stopped them from being elite. Wall missing any significant time is a setback for the Wizards because of his career averages of 18.9 points and 9.2 assists per game.

Blake Griffin - Sprained Left MCL (11/27): In what was seemingly the only bright spot for the Los Angeles Clippers, forward Blake Griffin has been diagnosed with a MCL sprain. Fortunately for the Clippers, and Griffin, there was no structural damage which should see Griffin back on the court in about two months. Unfortunately, the Clippers don't have that long to spare. It will be extremely hard for L.A. to win ball games without their best player on the court. During the fourth quarter of a game against the Lakers, teammate Austin Rivers and Lakers' Lonzo Ball became entangled with Griffin while going after a lose ball. Rivers and Ball dove and inadvertently rammed into Griffin’s left knee hyper extending it backwards. Although Griffin is no stranger to injuries this was surely his season to prove he could lead a team after former teammate Chris Paul was sent to Houston.

Hassan Whiteside - Left Knee Bone Bruise (11/27): Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside has been diagnosed with a bone bruise. Initially Whiteside was diagnosed with the same injury on opening night against the Orlando Magic, in which he missed the following five games and returned to the lineup, but the injury still remains. The injury has been nagging Hassan periodically and it has even forced him to miss a few practices throughout the season. Whiteside is expected to miss between one-to-two weeks. Kelly Olynyk and rookie Bam Adebayo will both see increased minutes at center.

Terrance Ross - Sprained Right MCL and Tibial Plateau Fracture (11/29): Orlando Magic swingman Terrance Ross is out indefinitely after landing awkwardly against the Oklahoma City Thunder during second quarter action. Ross immediately clutched his knee upon landing. An MRI revealed the damage but fortunately for Ross, the injury doesn't require surgery. Initially Ross started for the Magic but was recently moved to the a reserve role to help bolster the bench with his ability to space and explosive athleticism. Veteran Arron Afflalo may see an increase in minutes following the injury as well as D.J. Augustin and Shelvin Mack.

Dewayne Dedmon - Left Tibia Stress Reaction (11/28): Atlanta Hawks starting center Dewayne Dedmon has been diagnosed with a left tibia stress reaction. Initially thought to be stress fracture, Dedmon is expected to miss somewhere between three-to-six weeks to nurse the injury. Hardly a consistent offensive threat to score, Dedmon is great on the offensive glass for second chance points. Atlanta will definitely miss his presence. A silver lining in Dedmon’s injury is that rookie John Collins will surely see more minutes along with Miles Plumlee who just returned to action from a quad injury.

Photo Credit: The Source.