Trail Blazers G Nolan Smith leaves summer league game on stretcher





Scary moment in Las Vegas Summer League action when Portland Trail Blazers guard Nolan Smith was taken off the floor on a stretcher after collapsing on the court. Details are still sketchy, but here are some tweets from observers:
Smith got fouled, took a few steps then collapsed like a boxer who was knocked out. He is still down on the court.—
Jason Quick (@jwquick) July 18, 2012
Smith's eyebrows are twitching and he appears disoriented but he's communicating with team staff members.—
Ben Golliver (@blazersedge) July 18, 2012
The #blazers Nolan Smith appeared to faint after taking shot to side of head driving to basket during summer league game, he is moving—
gary washburn (@GwashNBAGlobe) July 18, 2012
Wesley Matthews, who raced to Smith's side after he collapsed, said Smith was conscious and talking.—
Jason Quick (@jwquick) July 18, 2012
Matthews said Nolan Smith told him his head was spinning—
Jason Quick (@jwquick) July 18, 2012
The last 42.9 seconds of the game were canceled as medical personnel tended to Smith, who scored 27 points as the Blazers lost to the Houston Rockets 99-88.
Smith, the 21st overall pick in the 2011 draft out of Duke, played in 44 games last season as a rookie. His father, of course, is the late Derek Smith, a member of Louisville’s 1980 national championship team who played nine seasons in the NBA.
UPDATE: Here’s a more detailed description of Smith’s injury from Ben Golliver of BlazersEdge.com, including confirmation that Smith was taken to a hospital.
The Blazers’ official feed later said that Smith suffered a concussion:
Nolan Smith did sustain a concussion, but was never unconscious. He’s undergoing further testing at an area hospital. He is alert & talking.—
Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) July 18, 2012
#Blazers G Nolan Smith CT scan is normal. Has full range of motion. Expected to be released from Las Vegas hospital shortly.—
Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) July 18, 2012
