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Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard to miss All-Star game, 3PT shootout

By Ryan Mandel

CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 17: Damian Lillard #0 of Team Lebron dribbles up the court during the 2019 NBA All-Star Game on February 17, 2019 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 17: Damian Lillard #0 of Team Lebron dribbles up the court during the 2019 NBA All-Star Game on February 17, 2019 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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After suffering a groin strain against the Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard will sit out of the NBA All-Star game and 3PT shootout.

Just when Terry Stotts and the Portland Trail Blazers were about to raise the white flag late in the fourth quarter of a pivotal game against the Memphis Grizzlies, Damian Lillard suffered a grade 1-2 right groin strain.

Seeing Lillard walk back to the locker room injured is not something that Blazer fans are used to seeing, as he is usually able to stick things out and play through his injuries. However, considering the situation of the game, the fact that he left the floor probably doesn’t mean much.

Luckily for Lillard, he did not hear a “pop” when he injured his groin, which often signifies a significant injury, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. Whether or not Lillard will miss time beyond All-Star weekend is yet to be determined.

However, with the way that groin injuries linger, the Blazers cannot be thrilled with adding Lillard to their already long list of injured players. Should Lillard miss time, the Blazers would be down 4 starters (Jusuf Nurkic, Zach Collins, Rodney Hood, and Lillard) going into a pivotal stretch of games that could decide whether or not they make the playoffs.

After the game, Lillard was adamant in telling both his teammates and the media that the Blazers’ season is “far from over.” The Blazers currently sit 4 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the 8th seed in the West, but have the 25th hardest schedule in the league for their remaining 26 games, while the Grizzlies have the hardest schedule in the league over the same span.

The two teams will meet two more times before the season’s end, with both games being held at the Moda Center in Portland.

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If there’s any silver lining to this injury at all, it’s that it could not have come at a better time for Lillard. Obviously no injuries are good, but sitting out of the All-Star game will give Lillard 8 full days of rest before the Blazers take on the Pelicans on February 21st, who the Blazers are 0-3 against this season. Considering how much Lillard has had to carry the Blazers lately, this rest is probably much needed if he wants to have the energy to try and carry the Blazers to the playoffs. Let’s just hope that the 8 day rest is long enough.