Blazers All-Star Downgraded Ahead of Mavericks Game

Oct 22, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) high-fives teammate Trail Blazers’ guard Jrue Holiday (5) before playing in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images | Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images

A key Portland Trail Blazers cog has joined the team's lengthy injury report, ahead of a clash against the lowly Dallas Mavericks.

More news: Hall of Fame Former Trail Blazers Coach Dies at 88

Per Portland's official public relations X account, two-time All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday has been demoted to questionable ahead of the slated Sunday clash in American Airlines Arena.

INJURY UPDATE: Jrue Holiday (R Calf Soreness) is QUESTIONABLE for tonight’s game @ DAL. https://t.co/K2YMocGry0

— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) November 16, 2025

After an underwhelming 2024-25 season with the Boston Celtics, Holiday appears to be reborn in Portland. The 6-foot-4 UCLA product has averaged 16.7 points on .446/.365/.840 shooting splits, 8.3 dimes, 5.3 boards, and 1.6 steals across his 12 healthy games with his new team. He has looked absolutely reinvigorated defensively, too.

Six Trail Blazers have already been ruled out. Two-way player Javonte Cooke and rookie first-round draft pick Yang Hansen are both on assignment to Portland's NBAGL affiliate, the Rip City Remix. Former nine-time All-Star point guard Damian Lillard, of course, is already out for the year as he recovers from his ruptured left Achilles tendon.

More news: Charles Barkley Calls Out Blazers' Chauncey Billups Amid Gambling Scandal

Point guard Scoot Henderson, the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft behind Victor Wembanyama and Brandon Miller, will have to wait another night to make his regular season debut. Two-time All-Defensive Team wing Matisse Thybulle continues to rehabilitate his left thumb ligament tear. Guard Blake Wesley is on the shelf with a fractured right foot.

Thankfully, Portland will be playing the Dallas Mavericks, who have become one of the most dysfunctional franchises in the league just two seasons removed from returning the NBA Finals. Dallas will be without 10-time All-Star big man Anthony Davis, who'll miss his ninth straight game with a calf injury and is set to be reassessed in another 7-to-10 days, according to Dallas' PR team.

Update

Holiday has officially been ruled out for the matchup. According to Joe Freeman of The Oregonian, reserve forward Jerami Grant will now start in Holiday's stead.

This likely means that more of the Trail Blazers' ball handling duties will be assigned to starting shooting guard Shaedon Sharpe and rising star forward Deni Avdija, the latter of whom has become Portland's best player and a possible All-Star. He has emerged as a uniquely prolific scorer.

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