Are Jerami Grant, Deandre Ayton playing tonight? Injury updates for Blazers vs. Jazz

(l to r) Malcolm Brogdon, Deandre Ayton, Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers
(l to r) Malcolm Brogdon, Deandre Ayton, Jerami Grant, Portland Trail Blazers | Mark Blinch/GettyImages

The Portland Trail Blazers have been without key starters in Jerami Grant and Deandre Ayton and have been missing guard Malcolm Brogdon as well. Grant and Ayton last played on Dec. 2, while Brogdon has been absent from the lineup since Dec. 6.

Will any of that trio be available tonight as Portland takes on the Utah Jazz at Moda Center?

Are Jerami Grant or Deandre Ayton playing for the Blazers tonight?

Unfortunately, Rip City will once again be without the services of at least half its starting frontcourt. Grant remains in the league's concussion protocol, and Ayton is listed as questionable with the same knee soreness that's kept him out of Portland's last three games.

Brogdon, who's been dealing with a hamstring issue, is also questionable for tonight's game against Utah.

Blazers Head Coach Chauncey Billups went with a starting five of Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, Matisse Thybulle, Toumani Camara and Duop Reath in Portland's most recent game, a loss to the LA Clippers. It will likely be the same group that takes the floor for the opening tip against the Jazz unless Brogdon and Ayton are available.

If healthy, Ayton would resume his place in the starting lineup ahead of Reath, while Brogdon would take either Thybulle's or Camara's spot, giving the Blazers a three-guard lineup with Sharpe and Simons.

Scoot Henderson and Jabari Walker got major run off the bench against LA, and Moses Brown spelled Reath at center. The Blazers were competitive, but that eight-man rotation is going to struggle most nights, and if Billups is forced to play the same lineup heavy minutes tonight, it will likely be a slog again for a Portland team that's become accustomed to blowing fourth-quarter leads.

Full injury report for Portland Trail Blazers vs. Utah Jazz

The complete injury report for both teams is as follows:

Portland Trail Blazers:

  • Out: Robert Williams III (knee); Jerami Grant (concussion protocol)
  • Questionable: Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring); Deandre Ayton (knee tendinitis)

Utah Jazz:

  • Out: Jordan Clarkson (thigh); Keyonte George (foot); Lauri Markkanen (hamstring)
  • Questionable: Luka Samanic (illness); John Collins (illness)

Schedule