Sunday night’s game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Portland Trail Blazers is huge for both teams’ chances of making the Western Conference playoffs.
Injury update New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers are currently in 14th place, 3.5 games behind the Pelicans for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. There have been two games played between these two rivals so far this season, with each victory going to the road team. In New Orleans, the game will begin at the Smoothie King Center at 7:00 p.m.
After letting a victory slip away on Friday night, Portland is trying to finish the six-game trip with a winning record. The Blazers had a 21-point lead over the 76ers in Philadelphia, but ultimately lost 120-119.
With 34 points, Anfernee Simons was Portland’s top scorer. To compare, Damian Lillard scored 22 points to Jerami Grant’s 24.
We played so well and needed this game that it’s hard to let this one go, Lillard said. “However, that’s been the story of our season. We’ve only been decent at the end of games, as we tend to play well for spurts but struggle to finish them. Our chances were there. To think we almost lost this one.”
Despite experiencing right calf tightness, Lillard is still considered a probable starter for Sunday’s game against the Pelicans.
Lillard played 39 minutes and recorded a double-double on Friday against the 76ers, but it appears he may not have come out of the game unscathed physically. The starting point guard has been experiencing some tightness in his right calf, but the team is confident he will be able to play on Sunday in New Orleans.
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The Pelicans lost their most recent game despite being severely undermanned. On Saturday night in New Orleans, Oklahoma City led for nearly the entire game, building a 21-point lead and ultimately winning 110-96.
While Zion Williamson has been out since early January, the Pelicans have also been without second-leading scorer Brandon Ingram due to an ankle injury. It is unclear if Ingram will play on Sunday.
Coach Willie Green said Ingram is day-to-day and could return as soon as today against the Blazers.
On Wednesday, the Pelicans announced that Williamson’s strained right hamstring is continuing to heal, but that he will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
A recent MRI reportedly showed improved healing for Williamson, but the team is still hesitant to give a specific target date for the big man to return to playing. The most recent report from New Orleans indicated that Williamson was making similar progress.
Williamson will be re-evaluated in two weeks, and even if he is given the green light to return to on-court activity, he likely won’t be at full strength until April. Williamson last played on January 2 and has only played in 29 games this season.
