The Portland Trail Blazers will be without Damian Lillard on Saturday, as he is listed out with a left Achilles tendon injury. Shaedon Sharpe remains sidelined due to a stress reaction in his left fibula, while Deni Avdija is doubtful with a low back issue. Donovan Clingan is questionable after missing time with an illness. Caleb Love is unavailable on his two-way assignment with the G League.
Charlotte Hornets will also be missing multiple players, largely due to G League assignments. Tosan Evbuomwan, PJ Hall, Antonio Reeves, and Tidjane Salaun are out, while Liam McNeeley is on a G League assignment.
Despite the absences, the Hornets have won three of their last four games, including a 133-109 victory over the Pacers on Thursday.
Portland enters Saturday’s contest with a 29-31 record, coming off a 121-112 home win against Chicago.
The Blazers have struggled with injuries throughout the season, affecting consistency. Avdija, averaging 24.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, will be a key loss if he is unable to play. Sharpe’s absence removes a 21.4-point-per-game scorer from the rotation.
Charlotte’s roster is healthier among its core contributors. Brandon Miller leads the team with 20.9 points per game, followed by LaMelo Ball at 19.4 points and 7.3 assists. Miles Bridges contributes 17.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
The matchup at Spectrum Center will tip off at 1:00 p.m. ET.
