Trail Blazers Injury Report: Key Grizzlies Role Player Upgraded For Rematch
Fresh off an unexpected 122-92 demolition last night, your 16-42 Portland Trail Blazers are looking to once again put the hurt on the 20-40 Memphis Grizzlies on the home court for the second game in two nights.
Both injury-laden clubs are missing plenty of their normal stars as they gear up for a rematch this evening, which is slated to tip off at 5 p.m. PT.
Neither team is particularly concerned with a victory tonight, of course, as the primary goal now is losing as many games as possible en route to the NBA draft lottery this summer.
Veteran Memphis swingman Luke Kennard, who sat out last night's enterprise with an undisclosed illness, has seen his status upgraded to questionable, according to the NBA's latest injury report. One of the league's best long range snipers, the 6'5" wing out of Duke is connecting on an elite 44.8% of his six triple tries per game across 29 contests (13 starts). His return would greatly abet Memphis, which made a just-okay 37.5% of its 24 triple tries yesterday.
Elsewhere, however, Memphis' injury report is quite the rap sheet. The club is missing four of its normal starters, in point guard Ja Morant (labral right shoulder repair), shooting guard Desmond Bane (left ankle sprain), small forward Marcus Smart (right ring finger central slip tear), and power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (sore right quad tendon). Big man Brandon Clarke (left Achilles tendon repair), backup point guards Derrick Rose (low back soreness) and Scotty Pippen Jr. (lumbar disc bulge) are also out for the night, while John Konchar (left thumb sprain) is questionable.
Not to be outdone on the ailment front, the Blazers are also without guards Malcolm Brogdon (right elbow tendinitis), Scoot Henderson (left adductor strain), and Shaedon Sharpe (lower abdominal surgery) are all out, as is center Robert Williams III (right knee ligament tear). Starting center Deandre Ayton is doubtful due to a right hand sprain (he missed the action last night), but Duop Reath enjoyed a superlative run in his stead jumping center.
