The Portland Trail Blazers visit the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night at Ball Arena in a Western Conference matchup that could impact the play-in race.
Denver enters the game at 43-28 and sits fifth in the standings, while Portland is 35-36 and ninth after winning three straight.
The injury report is a key storyline for both teams as the regular season enters its final stretch. Portland will be without several players, including franchise guard Damian Lillard, who is listed as out due to left Achilles injury management.
Portland is also missing scoring wing Shaedon Sharpe, who remains out with a left fibula stress reaction. Sharpe averages 21.4 points per game this season and provides perimeter shot creation alongside Deni Avdija.
Avdija leads the Trail Blazers in scoring with 24.2 points per game and also contributes 7.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists.
Jerami Grant is listed as questionable due to left foot soreness. Grant averages 18.6 points per game while shooting 38.7 percent from three-point range, which makes him one of Portland’s most important floor-spacing options.
Guard Vit Krejci is also questionable with a left calf contusion. Krejci has appeared in 18 games and averages 7.4 points while providing secondary ball movement and perimeter depth.
Several Portland players are unavailable due to G League assignments or two-way contracts, including Caleb Love, Hansen Yang and Chris Youngblood.
Denver’s injury report is shorter but still carries importance for lineup flexibility. Peyton Watson is listed as questionable with a right hamstring strain. Watson has started 39 games this season and averages 14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.
Denver’s core rotation remains healthy, including Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Jokic leads the team with 28.1 points, 12.6 rebounds and 10.5 assists per game, while Murray averages 25.2 points and 7.1 assists.
The teams split their two previous meetings this season. Portland won the NBA Cup matchup 109-107 on Oct. 31, while Denver responded with a 157-103 victory on Feb. 20.
