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This Thursday evening, the Portland Trail Blazers are set to play host to the New Orleans Pelicans in a pivotal matchup for the Western Conference play-in tournament standings. Having secured victories in seven of their last nine outings, Portland’s record now stands at 39-38, placing them merely half a game shy of the Los Angeles Clippers for the coveted No. 8 seed.
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The Blazers enter this contest fresh off an impressive 114-104 away victory against the Clippers, and they currently hold a 2-1 lead in their season series against New Orleans. Conversely, the Pelicans are grappling with a five-game losing streak and are no longer in contention for a playoff berth.
Their most recent outing saw them suffer a significant 134-102 loss to the Houston Rockets, positioning them as the underdog for the upcoming game. Despite this, Portland themselves are contending with various injury issues.
Jerami Grant is sidelined with a calf injury, making him a confirmed absentee alongside Shaedon Sharpe and Damian Lillard. On the New Orleans side, there’s apprehension regarding Trey Murphy III, who has been absent for the past three games and whose ankle injury has him once more marked as questionable on the official injury report.
Trey Murphy III’s Injury Outlook Against the Trail Blazers
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
The questionable status for Trey Murphy III follows his prior absence from the last three contests, a period that has strikingly aligned with a significant decline in New Orleans’ performance. The Pelicans have now lost five consecutive games and have found it challenging to establish a reliable offensive rhythm without their top scorer.
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With an average of 21.7 points per game, Murphy represents the key offensive force for a squad that has mostly struggled throughout the season. The Trail Blazers, facing a tough schedule ahead, view this particular game as essential in their bid to narrow the distance between themselves and the Clippers.
Nevertheless, the Trail Blazers possess ample offensive firepower, even if Murphy is cleared to play. Notably, Deni Advija has been averaging 23.1 points per game and nearly achieved a triple-double in the win over Houston, contributing 28 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists.
Jrue Holiday made a comeback with 30 points in the previous game, and Scoot Henderson along with Toumani Camara have also been scoring effectively recently. Factoring in Portland’s home-court advantage and the current trajectories of both squads, the Trail Blazers are clearly positioned as the favorites for this encounter.
Trail Blazers Injury Report
Jerami Grant — Out (right calf strain)
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Damian Lillard — Out (left Achilles; injury management)
Shaedon Sharpe — Out (left fibula; stress reaction)
Vit Krejci — Out (left calf contusion)
Jayson Kent — Doubtful (G League; two-way)
Hansen Yang — Doubtful (G League; assignment)
Chris Youngblood — Doubtful (G League; two-way)
Pelicans Injury Report
Trey Murphy III — Questionable (right ankle sprain)
Karlo Matkovic — Questionable (low back spasms)
Bryce McGowens — Out (right small toe fracture)
Further Reading: The Pelicans face an important contract decision concerning a standout 2nd-round talent.