The Portland Trail Blazers host the Los Angeles Lakers tonight (Nov. 17) at Moda Center in a key NBA In-Season Tournament matchup. Don’t laugh – it really is a crucial game in the league’s inaugural regular-season tourney.
The Blazers landed in West Group A alongside the Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz. More detailed information can be found here, but essentially, a loss to LA will make Portland’s road to the next stage of the tournament difficult. The Trail Blazers can’t afford any more difficult in a season that’s thrown challenges their way from seemingly all directions.
Not only is the franchise at the beginning of a complete rebuild, the Blazers have suffered injuries to key players through just the first 11 games of the 2023-24 season.
So who will be available to Portland as they host LeBron James (?) and the Lakers?
Note: The Blazers will be debuting their 2023-24 City Edition jerseys and court against LA.
Full injury report for Trail Blazers vs. Lakers
Portland will be without its starting backcourt until at least December, and to make matters worse, head coach Chauncey Billups will once again be missing the third guard in what was supposed to be a four-guard rotation to start the season.
Will LA be without the services of LeBron James and/or Anthony Davis? Tonight’s full injury report is as follows:
Portland Trail Blazers:
- Out: Scoot Henderson (ankle); Anfernee Simons (thumb); Robert Williams III (knee); Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring)
- Questionable: Ish Wainright (left knee soreness)
Los Angeles Lakers:
- Out: Jarred Vanderbilt (heel); Gabe Vincent (knee); Jalen Hood-Schifino (knee)
- Questionable: LeBron James (calf)
- Probable: Anthony Davis (hip)
Probable starting lineups for Lakers at Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers:
- PG: Skylar Mays
- SG: Shaedon Sharpe
- SF: Toumani Camara
- PF: Jerami Grant
- C: Deandre Ayton
Los Angeles Lakers:
- PG: D’Angelo Russell
- SG: Cam Reddish
- SF: Taurean Prince
- PF: LeBron James
- C: Anthony Davis