Blazers Star Downgraded Ahead of Heat Matchup

Will this critical Portland piece suit up against Miami on Tuesday?

Jan 19, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (44) drives to the basket during the first half against Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) and center Deandre Ayton (2) at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Will a critical Portland Trail Blazers starter, a late addition to his club's injury report, suit up against the Miami Heat on Tuesday?

Starting Portland forward Toumani Camara is now questionable, an ominous designation, to play for the Trail Blazers due to an undisclosed illness, the team has divulged via its official PR account on X:

INJURY UPDATE: Toumani Camara (Illness) is QUESTIONABLE for tonight’s game @ MIA. https://t.co/2WQBdLWpgP

— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) January 21, 2025

Camara is Portland's best defender, a versatile forward who can credibly guard any wing. He likely would have been Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups' preferred option against embattled six-time All-Star Heat small forward Jimmy Butler. That duty will now likely fall to veteran combo forward Jerami Grant.

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Camara has established himself as currently the best player from among Portland's 2023 NBA Draft class.

The 6-foot-7 Belgian swingman, 24, was selected with the No. 52 overall pick late in the second round out of Dayton by the Phoenix Suns, and saw his draft rights flipped to Portland prior to the start of the 2023-24 season.

Camara thus became the Trail Blazers' lowest-selected player from that class, behind No. 3 pick Scoot Henderson out of the now-defunct G League Ignite, No. 23 pick Kris Murray out of Iowa (who's also questionable against Miami on Tuesday), and No. 43 pick Rayan Rupert out of the New Zealand Breakers.

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The 14-28 Trail Blazers are significant road underdogs against the 21-20 Miami Heat, whose two All-Stars — Butler and center Bam Adebayo — are both available.

Per sportsbook aggregator The Action Network, the Heat are projected by most oddsmakers to be nine-point favorites to hold off the lowly Trail Blazers at home.

This year, Camara is averaging 9.5 points on .420/.333/.724 shooting splits, 5.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.6 blocks per contest across 41 healthy games thus far for Portland. He'll be missed.

The game tips off at 4:30 p.m. PT at the Kaseya Center.

UPDATE:

Camara has been officially downgraded and will miss the matchup against Miami.

INJURY UPDATE: Toumani Camara and Kris Murray are OUT for tonight’s game @ MIA. Anfernee Simons and Robert Williams III are AVAILABLE to play. https://t.co/K5HkIRzNdM

— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) January 21, 2025

This story will be updated...

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