Portland will look to extend its two-game winning streak when it travels to New Orleans on Thursday night. Both teams have been informed of the players’ injuries.
Final injury reports Blazers – Pelicans
After defeating Chicago, New Orleans returns home with momentum and the league’s best offense. The Pelicans are built to perform well at home, as evidenced by their strong offense, and they have won two of their three games at the Smoothie King Center thus far.
Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, the Pelicans’ two stars, are still performing admirably and are expected to carry the team.
- Read also: The latest injury status of Zion Williamson
Garrett Temple will be missing due to personal obligations. He hasn’t played since Oct. 30, but he’s only played 21 minutes in two games this season, so his absence hasn’t had an effect on the Pelicans’ rotation.
Larry Nance was listed as a question mark heading into Wednesday’s game, but despite hyperextending his knee on Monday, he was thought to be a viable option. He’ll need at least one night off and will instead look to play in the second game of a back-to-back set against Portland on Thursday.
The Trail Blazers have multiple injuries and are in the fifth game of a five-game road trip, not to mention the second leg of a back-to-back, so this is a bad scheduling situation for them. They won a thrilling comeback game on Wednesday, but I doubt they’ll do so again on Thursday.
Johnson was one of three Trail Blazers who went from probable to questionable to out ahead of Wednesday’s game. When fully recovered, he should return to the bench, with his next opportunity coming Thursday in New Orleans against the Pelicans.
After the team’s shootaround, Jerami Grant was upgraded to questionable for Thursday’s game from probable. He’ll miss at least one game, and Justise Winslow will take his place in the starting lineup.
