Mike Conley out again for Game 5, still no timetable for return

As expected, Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley remains out of commission and will not play in Game 5 against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night. 

Conley suffered multiple facial fractures after taking an elbow from Blazers guard C.J. McCollum in Game 3, and underwent surgery Monday. There's currently no timetable for his return, and his injuries aren't expected to heal completely for four-to-six weeks, but there's optimism within the organization that he'll be able to return before the playoffs are out. 

That likely depends, of course, on how long the Grizzlies' playoff run lasts. Conley's absence may not be enough for the Blazers - down 3-1 in the series - to win the next three games and complete the NBA's first-ever comeback from 0-3 down, but it certainly won't hurt. 

Conley was already dealing with a foot sprain, and he estimated that he was playing at just 70 percent. But in the first three games of the series, he averaged 21.9 points per 36 minutes, shooting 50 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from 3-point range. 

The Grizzlies' offense has fallen apart when he's not on the floor.

Conley also helped lock down Blazers point guard Damian Lillard, who went off for 32 points against the Grizzlies' backups in Portland's series-saving Game 4 win. 

Despite the fact that he won't be participating, Conley bought and gave away 500 tickets to the game, a gesture of gratitude for the outpouring of support he received from Grizzlies fans in the wake of his injury. 

He also had some words of encouragement for his team ahead of their potential closeout game. 

Nick Calathes, who is 6-of-9 from beyond the arc in the postseason, is expected to draw the start in Conley's stead.