PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland Trail Blazers starting guard Anfernee Simons will miss four to six weeks after right thumb surgery, the team announced Friday afternoon.
The Blazers (0-1) play their home opener Friday night against the Orlando Magic (0-1).
Simons injured his right thumb during the Blazers season-opening loss Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Blazers said an MRI on Thursday night showed a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL).
After Damian Lillard was traded, Simons, in his seventh season, was expected to lead the Blazers’ offense. In Wednesday’s game, Simons scored 18 points in 27 minutes. The 24-year-old guard averaged a career-high 21.1 points per game last season.
If Simons misses the minimum four weeks, he'd return around Thanksgiving and miss about 14 games. If he misses the full six weeks, he'll get back around mid-December and miss about 18 games.
Shaedon Sharpe replaced Simons in the starting lineup Friday night against the Magic.
"For us, we've just got to do what we've got to do, keep it moving," said Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups said before the game. "We'll miss everything that he (Simons) does, until he gets back. But we'll start Shaedon and just keep going."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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