The 13-23 Portland Trail Blazers are set to take on the 21-16 Dallas Mavericks as they continue their five-game road trip. Tip-off at the American Airlines Center is now scheduled for 4:30 PM PT, an hour earlier, due to inclement weather in Dallas.
Both teams are missing key players, but the injury bug has significantly affected Dallas, which will be without their superstar duo of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic. Despite the injuries, Portland enters the game as an underdog.
The Mavericks have several under-the-radar players capable of stepping up in Irving and Doncic's absence, one of whom is Quentin Grimes. The Blazers, unfortunately, know this all too well, as Grimes torched them for 28 points on 5-of-7 three-point shooting in their Dec. 1 matchup. Portland lost that game 137-131.
Surprisingly, this marks the fourth time this season that the two teams have faced each other. The Blazers were blown out 132-108 in the Dec. 23 matchup. They did win the Dec. 28 contest despite Irving's 46-point performance thanks to a well-balanced effort, with four players scoring at least 20 points.
Blazers injury report vs. Mavericks on Thursday, Jan. 9
Here is the Blazers' injury report:
- Jerami Grant: Out (face contusion)
- Matisse Thybulle: Out (right ankle sprain)
- Robert Williams III: Out (rest)
Update: Williams has been downgraded to out.
Donovan Clingan missed the Blazers' game against the Pelicans for rest purposes but is now off the injury report. Instead, it's their other big man, Robert Williams III, who now pops up on the injury report due to rest, which is unsurprising given that this is the second half of a back-to-back.
Williams is an impactful player, but it's not a significant loss for Portland in terms of Chauncey Billups' rotations. Prior to the Pelicans game, Williams had three consecutive DNPs - coach's decision. The Blazers have an excess number of centers, but Williams' lack of playing time is still a mystery, leaving some to wonder if it could be due to the fact that Portland wants to keep their injury-prone big man healthy leading up to the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
Dallas Mavericks injury report
Here is the Mavericks' injury report:
- Daniel Gafford: Available (left ankle sprain)
- Luka Dončić: Out (left calf strain)
- Kyrie Irving: Out (lumbar back sprain)
- Danté Exum: Out (right wrist surgery)
- Markieff Morris: Out (illness)
Update: Gafford is available and will not be on a minutes restriction.
Dallas will also be without Kessler Edwards and Jazian Gortman, who are currently in the G League.
With Doncic and Irving out, the Mavericks started Spencer Dinwiddie, Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, P.J. Washington, and Dereck Lively II in their most recent game against the Lakers. Dallas still won 118-97, which goes to show that Portland will still have their hands full regardless of injuries.