Blazers' Thybulle out 3-4 weeks after knee surgery

Portland Trail Blazers guard Matisse Thybulle will be out three-to-four weeks after undergoing a procedure Thursday to fix inflammation in his right knee, the team announced Friday.

Portland acquired the defensive specialist for Jalen McDaniels at the 2023 trade deadline from the Philadelphia 76ers. Thybulle averaged 5.4 points, 1.4 assists, and 1.7 steals in 65 games with the Trail Blazers last season.

The 27-year-old missed 14 of Portland's final 16 regular-season games last campaign as he dealt with knee and ankle injuries. He was then cut from the Australian Olympic team ahead of the 2024 Paris Games.

Thybulle made back-to-back All-Defensive teams while a member of the Sixers. He's in the final season of a two-year, $21.5-million contract that includes a player option in 2025-26 worth $11.5 million.

Portland is already without third-year guard Shaedon Sharpe, who'll be sidelined until mid-November with a shoulder injury.

The Trail Blazers will play their final preseason game Friday night against the Utah Jazz. They'll kick off their 2024-25 season Oct. 23 against Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors.