MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 16: Courtney Lee #5 of the Memphis Grizzlies stands on the court during a game against the Denver Nuggets on March 16, 2015 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)Joe Murphy/Getty Images

Courtney Lee Injury: Updates on Grizzlies Guard's Hand and Return

Timothy RappMar 21, 2015

Memphis Grizzlies guard Courtney Lee was forced to miss the team's game on Saturday against the Portland Trail Blazers with a hand injury.

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Lee Out Saturday With Right Hand Sprain

Saturday, March 21

As the Grizzlies play-by-play announcer Pete Pranica noted on Twitter, Lee was held out of Saturday's contest against the Blazers, and the nature of his injury might just explain a few things:

Indeed, Lee—who is averaging 10.3 points, 2.0 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 30.8 minutes per game—is shooting just 34.7 percent from the field in March and averaging just 8.3 points per contest. Contrast that with February, when Lee shot 43.8 percent. That's a pretty drastic drop-off for the player, who is shooting 45.4 percent total for the year.

While Lee's injury doesn't sound terribly serious, he gives the Grizzlies big minutes and his lost will be felt as the team as the Grizzlies look to hold down the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference behind the Golden State Warriors. The hope will certainly be that his injury only keeps him out for a game or two as the postseason approaches.