Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III ‘is set to undergo potential season-ending surgery on his right knee’ after limping out of loss to the Memphis Grizzlies

Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III is expected to undergo potentially season ending surgery to repair bone and ligament damage due to a right knee-cap injury.

Williams may also have the option of opting for a smaller cleanup procedure that would likely only side him for two to three months, reports The Athletic.

The 26-year-old big man injured the knee in Sunday’s loss to the Memphis Grizzlies and was taken to the locker room before eventually being ruled out for the rest of the contest. He underwent testing for the injury on Monday.

So far this season Williams has averaged 6.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.

He was acquired by the Trail Blazers earlier this year as part of the blockbuster three-team trade centered around the Boston Celtics acquiring point guard Jrue Holiday from the Milwaukee Bucks.

Williams has struggled to avoid injuries throughout his career and has only played in more than 52 games a season once in his six-year career.

Last season he suited up for only 35 regular season contests for the Celtics while averaging eight points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blockers per game.

When he actually has been able to step onto the court, Williams has earned a reputation as on of the NBA’s elite rim protectors and was expected to play a key role in providing interior defense for the rebuilding Trail Blazers.

His best season in the league resulted in him being named a member of the All-NBA defensive second-team.

During that season he averaged 10 points, 9.6 rebounds and two blocks a game. It was also the season he spent the most time on the court after playing in 61 games.

READ MORE

The Portland Trail Blazers overcame a 10-point deficit with 3:21 remaining in the fourth quarter to force overtime and then pulled out a 115-113 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night at the Moda Center.

The Blazers returned home from a 2-1 trip to discover a red-dominated special court, the NBA’s creation of an In-Season Tournament and the 0-5 Memphis Grizzlies up next for two games starting Friday night.

Friday’s victory pushed the Blazers to 3-3 on the young season following an 0-3 start.

Shaedon Sharpe scored seven points in overtime, including a three-pointer that gave the Blazers a 109-106 lead. Jerami Grant hit a three with under a minute left to give the Blazers a 112-108 advantage with 39 seconds to go.

“I was just happy it went in,” Grant said with a laugh. “I had a few in-and-outs … It was a big shot for us.

The Blazers held on from there.

“This was a hell of a game,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “I was proud of us. We just stayed together. We were down a lot. A lot went against us.”

It looked like the Blazers were done for late in the fourth. The Grizzlies led 98-90 when a loose ball found its way into Blazers’ center Deandre Ayton’s hands at about midcourt. He raced to the basket in hopes of throwing down a dunk, but Memphis forward Jaren Jackson Jr. flew in from behind and blocked Ayton’s shot off the backboard. Luke Kennard grabbed the ball and passed ahead to David Roddy, who was all alone for the dunk.

The basket gave the Grizzlies a 100-90 lead with 3:21 remaining and many Blazers fans began heading for the exits.

But the Blazers mounted a comeback. Grant scored on a fadeway and was fouled with 1:32 remaining. He missed the free throw, leaving Memphis with a 100-95 lead.

Later, Malcolm Brogdon made both free throws after being fouled on a drive and suddenly the Blazers trailed just 102-100 with 45.6 seconds to go.

The Blazers got a stop and the ball went to Sharpe, who drove hard to the basket and drew a shooting foul on Roddy with 8.3 seconds remaining.

Sharpe made both to tie the game at 102-102.

On their final possession in regulation, the Grizzlies got what seemed like an open look on a three-pointer in the right corner by Kennard. But Sharpe swatted the shot out of bounds as time expired and the game headed to overtime.

Sharpe finished the game with 22 points. Brogdon started in place of the injured Scoot Henderson and delivered 24 points and 10 assists. Grant scored 26 while Deandre Ayton put up 16 points with 12 rebounds.

Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 33 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Jackson scored 30 points with 10 rebounds.

A key for Billups was his team committing a reasonable 14 turnovers that the Grizzlies converted into 16 points. The Blazers forced 17 turnovers that they turned into 28 points.

“We said that if we did a good job of not turning the ball over tonight we felt like we would have a good chance in the game,” Billups said. “We took care of the ball. That’s a gritty, really, really tough defensive team. They make it really tough for you.”

Each team shot poorly on threes. The Grizzlies went 10 of 35 (28.6%) while the Blazers shot 9 of 32 (28.1%).