If you’ve wanted to see what the players further down Portland’s bench could do with additional minutes, Thursday night’s game is going to be right up your alley.
With Damian Lillard (abdominal strain) and Derrick Jones Jr. (left foot sprain) having their statuses downgraded this afternoon from questionable to out for tonight’s game versus the 76ers in Philadelphia, the Trail Blazers will have just nine players in uniform with Nassir Little (left knee sprain), CJ McCollum (left foot fracture), Jusuf Nurkic (right wrist fracture) and Zach Collins (left ankle fracture) already on the injured list.
What’s more, Robert Covington, who recently missed two games due to a concussion, will be the only player from the Opening Night starting five available for Thursday’s contest.