Reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Marc Gasol went down last night after a knee injury. As the Grizzlies took on the Spurs Friday night, Gasol left early in the second quarter after what appeared to be a sprain in his left knee. After undergoing an MRI on Saturday, it was determined that Gasol has a Grade 2 sprain his left medical collateral ligament (MCL). While no surgery is required, there’s no timetable set for his return.
Gasol was averaging 17.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.2 blocks, and one steal per game this season. He was also the anchor of the Grizzlies defense that was second in the league only behind the Indiana Pacers. The Grizzlies had bounced back after a rough 3-5 start and won 4 in a row in a West Coast road trip against the Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, and Golden State Warriors before losing to the Spurs last night.
