The Portland Trail Blazers launched a a historically young formation against the Denver Nuggets on March 23. Due to injuries and, at least in part, tanking, head coach Chauncey Billups deployed an all-rookie starting five. This is only the second time since at least 1970-71 that this has happened in the NBA.
Will one of Portland’s starters be back tonight against the Houston Rockets or will the team be the first to start five rookies twice?
Simons was the last non-rookie to start a game for Portland when he appeared in the Blazers’ loss to the LA Clippers on March 22. He left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury.
The team has been without Jerami Grant for an extended period of time and has been missing Deandre Ayton over the last two games. Matisse Thybulle was out with an ankle injury against the Nuggets.
It appears there is a good chance that at least one veteran will return to the starting five tonight, as Ayton, Simons, and Thybulle are all listed as questionable heading into the game.
INJURY REPORT 3/25 @ HOU:
OUT
Brogdon (R elbow tendonitis)
Sharpe (lower abdominal surgery)
Williams III (torn right knee)DOUBT
Grant (R hamstring strain)QUESTIONABLE
Ayton (L elbow tendinitis)
Minaya (bidirectional)
Simons (L knee tendinitis)
Thybulle (R ankle impingement)– Trail Blazers Public Relations (@TrailBlazersPR) March 24, 2024
The full injury report for tonight’s game is as follows:
Portland Trail Blazers:
Houston Rockets:
