Trail Blazers lose Matthews for remainder of NBA season

Wesley Matthews, who has helped the Portland Trail Blazers become a title threat, will miss the remainder of the NBA season with a ruptured left Achilles tendon, the team announced Friday. The 28-year-old shooting guard was injured in Thursday's 94-75 victory over Dallas, leaving the game in the third quarter after collapsing as he turned with the ball. Matthews, a six-year NBA veteran, limped off the court with assistance and an MRI after the game revealed the extent of his injury. Matthews has averaged 15.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 60 games for the Trail Blazers, joining backcourt partner Damian Lillard and forward LaMarcus Aldridge in topping Portland's scoring leaders. At 41-19, the Trail Blazers lead the Northwest division by eight games over Oklahoma City and rank third in the Western Conference and fourth overall in the NBA. Matthews helped Utah reach the playoffs in his first NBA season before joining the Blazers, who lost in the first round of the 2011 playoffs and missed the post-season two years in a row until returning and making the second round last year.