PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — It could be a potential Western Conference Playoff preview, and the Trail Blazers might not have their star player for it.
Portland point guard Damian Lillard is expected miss Thursday’s game against the Houston Rockets with a left ankle injury, according to a report from Yahoo! Sports’ Shams Charania.
Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard is day-to-day with left ankle injury and is expected to miss Thursday’s game in Houston, league sources tell Yahoo.— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 4, 2018
The Blazers officially listed Lillard as doubtful. The report didn’t say if the injury would keep Lillard out of the lineup for more than Thursday’s game.
Lillard, who was named the Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday for the third time this season, injured his ankle in a loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.
Thursday’s game will be the second time the Rockets and Blazers have played in the last month. On March 20, the Rockets — the No. 1 seed in the west and the owner of the best record in the NBA — beat the Blazers in Portland, 115-111, ending the Blazers’ 13-game win streak.
Lillard and guard CJ McCollum struggled in the loss, combining to shoot 9-of-32 from the field, including a 0-for-12 performance from 3-point range.
Thursday’s game will tipoff in Houston at 5:00 p.m. (PST)