Trail Blazers look to continue uphill climb against Nuggets
Thu Mar 20 9:43pm ET
Field Level Media
The Portland Trail Blazers remain in an uphill climb when it comes to nabbing a Western Conference play-in spot.
But the gap has narrowed, and Portland looks to take another step forward when it hosts the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.
The Trail Blazers (31-39) are 3-1 on a seven-game homestand and have moved within two games of the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks in the battle for the final play-in spot.
Portland has just 12 games remaining but it's chasing a Phoenix team that has been wildly inconsistent and a Dallas squad that has been ravaged by injuries.
In addition, the Trail Blazers are facing a team on Friday in the Nuggets (44-26) that will be without three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic (left ankle) for the third consecutive game.
Denver sharpshooter Jamal Murray (right ankle) also missed the past two contests but is listed as questionable for Friday.
Portland is coming off a solid 115-99 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.
The Trail Blazers were electric on defense by forcing Memphis to miss 20 of its first 21 shots in the fourth quarter. The Grizzlies had five points over the first 11-plus minutes of the fourth quarter until scoring five more in garbage time.
"It shows that we've been really guarding after the All-Star break," Portland guard Anfernee Simons said. "And we've been connecting on that end and also the offensive end, too."
The Trail Blazers also owned a stunning 65-40 rebounding advantage.
"We had a huge, huge night on the glass," Portland coach Chauncey Billups said. "... To me, that was where the game started and allowed us to kind of get a cushion."
Forward Deni Avdija continued his strong play with 31 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists. He matched his season high on the boards and knocked down five 3-pointers.
Avdija scored 26 points in the first half en route to his third 30-point outing of the month.
"Deni, he was incredible in that first half," Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. "He really was. Just the force that he plays with. It has you on your heels."
Denver is 2-1 against Portland this season and has won nine of the past 10 meetings.
The Nuggets enter Thursday's play in third place in the West, a half-game ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers and one game in front of the Grizzlies.
Denver is 7-7 over its past 14 games and has split the first two contests of a four-game road trip. The Nuggets lost 120-108 to the Lakers on Wednesday.
Aaron Gordon stepped up for the second straight night with Jokic and Murray out. After scoring 38 points in a 114-105 road victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday, he poured in 26 more against the Lakers and matched his season high of 11 rebounds.
Gordon is dealing with ankle and calf injuries and is listed as probable.
The physical woes are minor for Gordon, who is still dealing with the death of his older brother Drew last May.
Drew Gordon died in a vehicle accident in Portland at age 33. Drew Gordon was a former first-team All-Mountain West pick at New Mexico.
"I've had some great conversations with AG throughout the season and everything he's dealing with as a young man in this world," Denver coach Michael Malone said.
"With his family, with his brother, and trying to play through that and be there for everybody, that's not easy. That's a tall task on top of (telling him), ‘Hey man, we need you to go out there and be our power forward, our rock.' He is the most unselfish and selfless player in the NBA and I just have nothing but love and respect for Aaron Gordon and the journey he's on, and us trying to help him get through that."
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Detroit Pistons forward/center Isaiah Stewart (knee) has been listed as questionable for Game 2 of the team's first-round series against the New York Knicks on Monday night. Stewart has been dealing with inflammation in his right knee since the end of the regular season and made an early exit in Game 1, leaving with over nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The 23-year-old big man had two points in the contest with five rebounds and two blocks. Paul Reed is likely to enter the rotation on Monday if Stewart can't play, although he probably won't see much time on the court behind starting center Jalen Duren, who will aim to bounce back in Game 2 after being held to seven points and six rebounds in Saturday's loss.
Denver Nuggets forward/center Aaron Gordon (calf) has been listed as probable for Monday's Game 2 against the Los Angeles Clippers. Gordon is back on the injury report with a right calf strain, but he is likely to play. The veteran was one of the stars of the show in the series opener on Saturday, posting 25 points, eight rebounds, and two steals in 46 minutes. The Clippers must improve their defensive effort against him on Monday night, though they aren't the only team that has struggled to contain him, as Gordon is averaging over 20 points per game this month.
Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (knee) doesn't believe he'll face a minutes restriction in Sunday's playoff battle with the Orlando Magic. He suffered from posterior impingement in his right knee, forcing him to miss nine of the Celtics final 20 games of the regular season. Fortunately, head coach Joe Mazzulla reported Brown has looked good. Despite struggling from the three-point line, the 28-year-old has played well against Orlando during the 2024-25 campaign (two games), averaging 27.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 3.0 steals. While the injury is still somewhat concerning for fantasy managers, Brown is worth including in any DFS lineup on Sunday.
Dallas Mavericks' F Anthony Davis scored 40 points on 16-of-29 shooting in a 106-120 loss to Memphis on Friday, Apr. 18.
Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant (ankle) will play in Friday's elimination game against the Dallas Mavericks. Morant is dealing with a "severe" ankle sprain and received an injection in his ankle on Thursday. He was originally listed as questionable for Friday's game before the team upgraded his status to available. Morant's presence in the lineup is a major boost for Memphis, but it remains to be seen how effectively he can play through his ankle injury.
Dallas Mavericks point guard Brandon Williams (oblique) has been upgraded to available for Friday's play-in showdown against the Memphis Grizzlies. Williams was initially listed as probable for the game. The 25-year-old has added a spark to the Mavericks late in the season and was one of the standout performers in Wednesday's win over the Sacramento Kings, finishing with 17 points and five assists in 18 minutes off the bench. A similar effort from Williams on Friday night would boost Dallas' chances of victory in a tough road game.
Dallas Mavericks forward/center Anthony Davis (adductor) has been cleared to play in Friday's play-in matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Mavericks have upgradEd Davis' status from probable to available after head coach Jason Kidd labeled the star big man a game-time decision. Following his adductor injury, Davis has steadily improved his form and opened the Play-In Tournament with a 27-point, nine-rebound effort against the Sacramento Kings.
Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Gary Trent Jr. (knee) will be active on Saturday against the Indiana Pacers. He has not been listed on the injury report after a knee injury sidelined him for Milwaukee's regular-season finale. The veteran has improved his performances throughout the campaign and is averaging 12.6 points in 26.5 minutes since the All-Star break. Against the Pacers, Trent Jr. has done a lot of damage from downtown this season, nailing 59.3 percent of his triples to average 13.5 points in the matchup.
Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart (knee) is set to return after a two-game absence on Saturday against the New York Knicks. The big man has recently experienced inflammation in his right knee and did not play in the team's last two regular-season games. Stewart and starting center Jalen Duren will face a tough challenge in the first-round series against Karl-Anthony Towns. In four regular-season matchups with the Knicks, Stewart managed only 3.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game in 22.5 minutes.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Taurean Prince (knee) will be welcomed back into the lineup for Saturday's playoff opener against the Indiana Pacers. The veteran was unavailable for the regular-season finale due to a knee issue. Prince has quietly played an important role for the Bucks this season, starting 73 of 80 games and contributing in multiple areas. He averaged 8.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.0 steals during the regular season.
Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson (knee) is off the injury report and good to go for Saturday's matchup against the New York Knicks. The versatile youngster exited the lineup for the team's regular-season finale due to left knee patellar tendinopathy, but he will be ready to make his postseason debut in Saturday's game. Thompson has improved each month in 2024-25, finishing the regular season by averaging 12.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.7 steals in April.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (ankle) will rejoin the lineup on Saturday for Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers held Reaves out of their regular-season finale due to a right ankle sprain. However, he has been removed from the injury report before the start of the playoffs. Reaves has had a fantastic year with the Lakers and will enter the postseason with very positive momentum. He has averaged 23.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game this month, shooting a phenomenal 52.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (knee) is expected to be in the lineup for Saturday's Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, as the team has not listed him on the injury report. Hachimura has spent a large chunk of the campaign on the injury report, but he appears to be fully healthy for the most important part of the season. He has missed three of the last six games, including the regular-season finale last Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers. Although health issues have significantly disrupted Hachimura's season, he has performed well when in the lineup, averaging 13.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in 31.7 minutes.
Los Angeles Lakers point guard Luka Doncic (quadriceps) does not appear on the injury report ahead of Saturday's Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He did not play in the team's regular-season finale due to left quadriceps soreness. Last year, Doncic was outstanding in a series against the Timberwolves and is expected to deliver big performances again. The Slovenian superstar closed out the regular season in great form, averaging 31.8 points for April with 45.3 percent shooting from downtown.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (hip) is considered probable for Saturday's Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After dealing with foot and groin injuries, James is now on the injury report with a left hip flexor strain. However, the probable tag suggests that he is expected to be on the floor. James was limited to 19.7 points per game on 41.5 percent shooting by the Timberwolves during the regular season. He will need to do better in the playoff series to avoid a second consecutive first-round loss with his team.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Rockets are "less likely" to pursue a trade for Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant. ESPN's Shams Charania reported KD to Houston could be a possibility. However, the Stein Line has reported that a move between the clubs isn't expected since Durant "is not on the same timeline as Houston's promising young core." The multi-time All-Star is due to make north of $50 million in 2025-26, so a swap between the Rockets and Suns presumably would need to involve a few top-tier players. At any rate, Durant likely won't be in Phoenix next season. But no matter where he ends up, he should remain a top-15 fantasy option heading into the 2025-26 campaign.
Indiana Pacers guard/forward Ben Sheppard (toe) is listed as probable for Saturday's Game 1 against the Milwaukee Bucks. Sheppard sat out Indiana's final five regular-season games with a sprained big toe, but it seems like he will be available to return on Saturday. The 23-year-old will add some depth to the Pacers' rotation, but he does not hold significant fantasy value. Throughout the regular season, Sheppard settled for 5.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in 19.5 minutes.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen would like to remain with the club. "Definitely," said Markkanen when asked if he wants to stay in Utah. "I love being in Utah." He also won't be phased by anticipated trade rumors this offseason. "We'll see what happens in summer, there's things you can't control, but I love being here and working out with the guys that we have and building this thing." The 27-year-old had a down season from a production standpoint in 2024-25, averaging 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 34.6% shooting from behind the arc. He was also limited to 47 games. However, with the Jazz finishing the 2024-25 campaign with one of the worst records in the National Basketball Association, it's safe to say he could have played more had the team stayed competitive. No matter where Markkanen ends up next season, he has All-Star potential. Still, he's the best player in Utah, so he'll likely be the most productive by staying with the Jazz. Markkanen agreed to a four-year, $220 million extension last offseason, potentially keeping him on the roster through 2028-29.
Indiana Pacers guard/forward Bennedict Mathurin (calf) looks poised to return from a one-game absence on Saturday against the Milwaukee Bucks, as the team has not included him on the injury report. Mathurin was unavailable last Sunday for Indiana's regular-season finale against the Cleveland Cavaliers, sitting out the action due to a left calf injury. Indiana will need all the firepower it can get to take down Giannis Antetokounmpo's crew, and Mathurin is expected to provide bench scoring in the matchup. The 22-year-old averaged 16.1 points during the regular season, but his output fell to 14.7 points after he was moved to the second unit following the All-Star break.
Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton (back) has been officially cleared for Saturday's postseason opener against the Milwaukee Bucks. The star guard has been nursing a back issue lately, sitting out the last two regular-season games, but the team has not listed him on the injury report for Saturday. In his last appearance against the Bucks, Haliburton cooked up a nice 24-point, 15-assist double-double. For the season, he has registered 17.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 10.3 assists, and 2.0 steals in the meetings between the Central Division rivals.
