Grizzlies’ guard Mike Conley is out at least six weeks after suffering transverse process fractures in the vertebrae during last night’s loss to the Hornets, the Grizzlies confirmed on Tuesday:
Conley was diagnosed today with transverse fractures in the vertebrae located in his lower back following last night’s game against the Charlotte Hornets. The injury occurred with 8:25 to go in the third quarter when he was kneed in the back by a Charlotte player while taking a charge. The injury is expected to resolve itself with rest. Conley is expected to miss six weeks and will be re-evaluated in four weeks.
Grizzlies.com’s Michael Wallace provided more on the injury:
I'm told Grizzlies are confident Conley will recovery fully from the back injury. Grizzlies were scheduled to practice today in Toronto.
— Michael Wallace (@MyMikeCheck) November 29, 2016
My understanding is Conley's injury is similar to Dallas QB Tony Romo's. No surgery required but rest and recovery needed to heal fractures.
— Michael Wallace (@MyMikeCheck) November 29, 2016
Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal detailed how Conley was injured last night:
Conley took an inadvertent knee to the back …
Conley laid flat on the court and grimaced in pain for several minutes before teammates helped him stand.
Conley then walked gingerly to the locker room with 8:25 left in the third quarter and the Griz down 61-48 on the scoreboard. He did not return because of the lower back injury.
Conley was off to a solid start to the season with a career-high average of 19.2 points to go along with 5.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 32.2 minutes.
Brutal news for Conley & Grizzlies.
Grizz NetRtg…
Conley on floor: +6.5
Conley off floor: -13.8https://t.co/CfgTXPuQ0b— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) November 29, 2016
