Due to “family reasons,” the Portland Trail Blazers will be without backup point guard Mo Williams when they take on the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.
Williams sent out a tweet on Wednesday saying his sister has been taken to the hospital:
Tweeps say a prayer for my sister, she been in the hospital for the last couple days. My heart is heavy rt now.
— Mo Williams (@mowilliams) February 6, 2014
Head coach Terry Stotts confirmed the Williams’ absence Friday morning, saying Earl Watson will see minutes as Portland’s backup point guard. Casey Holdahl of TrailBlazers.com relayed on news on Twitter:
Terry Stotts says Earl Watson will get the minutes at backup point guard with Mo Williams (personal reasons) out for tonight's game.
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) February 7, 2014
Watson, who’s played sparingly this season, said his thoughts were with Williams and his family:
"Right now, my thoughts are elsewhere with other people. This team is a family. This team is a real brotherhood where we have a real love for each other. So right now, my mind is somewhere else. It’s less about basketball and more about life. That’s what’s most important to me right now."
The game between the Blazers and the Pacers can be seen at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
[Source: The Oregonian]