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Preview: Portland Trail Blazers to take on the Pacers in first scrimmage

Ryan Gaskin|
PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 26: T.J. McConnell #9 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles against Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers in the fourth quarter during their game at Moda Center on January 26, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. 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 (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 26: T.J. McConnell #9 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles against Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers in the fourth quarter during their game at Moda Center on January 26, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. 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 (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

At last, Portland basketball is back. The Portland Trail Blazers face the Indiana Pacers in both team’s first scrimmage in Orlando. Find out where to watch this matchup.

We last saw our Portland Trail Blazers on a basketball court beating the Phoenix Suns by double digits. That, was 4 months ago.

Now, following an incredible amount of planning and work, live NBA games are finally a thing again, and the Trail Blazers will begin their preparation with vs. the Indiana Pacers.

Terry Stotts will likely use these scrimmages to iron out the rust in players returning from long injury layoffs in particular; Zach Collins and Jusuf Nurkic will probably be managed carefully, but should get a decent bit of playing time.

Stotts may also play around with his lineups a little, as this Pacers matchup is one of three scrimmages available to Portland- a chance to rotate for sure.

The Blazers actually lost their previous meeting with Indiana by 6 points, although Damian Lillard sat out that night. CJ McCollum put up 28 points and 8 assists, while Hassan Whiteside bulldozed his way to a strong 18-point, 16-rebound night.

On Thursday, Lillard will be returning, as will Indiana’s Victor Oladipo, who now looks set to play in the NBA restart.

Thursday’s scrimmage will be a fun look at a lineup we haven’t been able to see all season; watching Nurkic will be bittersweet without any fans in attendance, but I’m sure Portland fans are just as excited to see the Bosnian Beast in action.

Follow the Action

Date: Thursday July 23rd, 2020
Time: 12:30 p.m. PST
Where: HP Field House, Orlando, FL
Watch: NBA TV, NBC Sports Northwest, Fubo TV
Listen: Rip City Radio 620

Projected Starting Lineups and Injury Report

Portland Trail Blazers:

PG: Damian Lillard
SG: CJ McCollum
SF: Carmelo Anthony
PF: Zach Collins
C: Jusuf Nurkic

Injury report: Out/Unavailable– Rodney Hood, Trevor Ariza, Caleb Swanigan

Check back in at Rip City Project for more Blazers news, analysis and reports.