The Portland Trail Blazers will be looking to win for the third time in five games when they take on the Dallas Mavericks tonight (Jan. 3) in the first of back-to-back contests in Dallas.
The Blazers have survived playing without centers Deandre Ayton and Duop Reath, guards Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe, and forward Toumani Camara for portions, if not all, of that stretch. Sharpe returned for a New Year's Day game against the Phoenix Suns but played on a minutes restriction.
Will he play in consecutive games for the first time since Dec. 19? What about starters Simons, Camara and Ayton, or Reath, who has played a crucial role off Portland's bench?
Is Anfernee Simons playing tonight for the Blazers?
Simons is listed as questionable in the hours leading up to tonight's game. Head coach Chauncey Billups has been without his best offensive player since the 24-year-old came down with an illness after a Dec. 26 win over the Sacramento Kings.
The Mavericks will have MVP candidate Luka Doncic in the lineup, but Dallas will be without two key role players. If Simons and Sharpe play and Scoot Henderson has another solid game, the Blazers' backcourt could take advantage of the Mavs' missing pieces.
Full injury report for Trail Blazers at Mavericks
The complete injury report for tonight's game is as follows:
Portland Trail Blazers
- Out: Robert Williams III (knee), Deandre Ayton (knee)
- Questionable: Moses Brown (wrist), Duop Reath (back), Toumani Camara (knee), Anfernee Simons (illness)
Dallas Mavericks
- Out: Dante Exum (heel), Maxi Kleber (toe)
- Questionable: Richaun Holmes