The Blazers (12-9) overtook on Thursday by missing four starters, including Damian Lillard (abdominal strain) and CJ McCollum (broken foot), winning 121-105 to the Philadelphia 76ers, owners of the best Eastern Conference record at age 16 -7 .
But as fun as that night was for the Blazers, the relentless pace of the NBA doesn’t leave much time to celebrate wins or complain about losses. The New York Knicks await the Blazers on Saturday morning.
“In this league, the games don’t stay with you that long, win or lose, because tomorrow we have to play the Knicks,” said Blazers manager Terry Stotts. “But it’s one of those games that people will talk about. … So, in that sense, he stays with you but, I’m sure after we play the Knicks, it will almost become ancient history”.
It looks like Lillard and Derrick Jones Jr. will be back in formation for Saturday’s 10am game. Both are listed as probable in the latest injury report. Nassir Little (knee sprain), McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic (broken wrist) remain out.