5 Key Trail Blazers Players Already Ruled Out for Saturday Heat Game

Jan 21, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) dribbles the basketball as Miami Heat center Kel'el Ware (7) defends during the third quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Portland Trail Blazers' backcourt will be fairly decimated against the Miami Heat on Saturday night, per the team's latest injury report.

More news: Blazers Teammates React to Robert Williams Season Debut in Upset vs Nuggets

According to Portland, guards Scoot Henderson (left hamstring tear), Damian Lillard (left Achilles tendon), Matisse Thybulle (left thumb ligament tear) and Blake Wesley (right foot fracture) are all shelved for the Portland matchup. Lillard and Wesley are going to be on the Trail Blazers' injury reports for months to come.

INJURY REPORT 11/8 @ MIA:

OUT:
Javonte Cooke (G League Two-Way)
Scoot Henderson (L Hamstring Tear)
Damian Lillard (L Achilles Tendon)
Matisse Thybulle (L Thumb Ligament Tear)
Blake Wesley (R Foot Fracture)

PROBABLE:
Shaedon Sharpe (L Calf Soreness)

— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) November 7, 2025

Wesley broke his foot just last week. Lillard has already ruled himself out for the entire season due to the Achilles tear he incurred in the first round of the playoffs last season, while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Milwaukee general manager Jon Horst stretched and waived Lillard's contract over the summer to carve out cap space for his eventual Brook Lopez replacement, $108.9 million free agent addition Myles Turner. Lillard, aware he'd be rehabbing his Achilles for the entire 2025-26 season, opted to return to the team that drafted him out of Weber State way back in 2012.

The 35-year-old inked a three-year, $41.6 million contract with a player option for 2027-28, meaning he'll essentially have one season to prove his mettle before he can return to free agency.

More news: Blazers GM Bans Players From Contacting Chauncey Billups

Starting Trail Blazers shooting guard Shaedon Sharpe, who's been playing with a sore left calf, is considered probable to suit up for Portland on Saturday.

The Heat, meanwhile, have yet to submit an injury report for Saturday's encounter.

Portland is off to an encouraging season start in 2025-26. After head coach Chauncey Billups was indicted by the FBI over a gambling charge, assistant Tiago Splitter took over. Under his leadership, the defense-first squad has gone 5-2 (5-3 overall, including Billups' season opener).

Portland isn't just beating lottery teams, either.

An Encouraging Start for the Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers have already taken down several of the Western Conference's elite, including the 8-1 Oklahoma City Thunder, the 7-2 Los Angeles Lakers (although LA also took the Trail Blazers down once), and the 5-2 Denver Nuggets.

New addition Jrue Holiday is looking more like his 2023-24 self than the injured 2024-25 iteration, while young forwards Toumani Camara and especially Deni Avdija continue to blossom on the court.

For more news and notes on the Portland Trail Blazers, visit Portland Trail Blazers on SI.