Portland Trail Blazers at Cleveland Cavaliers Preview

Portland Trail Blazers (5-11) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (4-11)

November 23, 2019 - 5:00 p.m. PT
Blazers injuries: Anfernee Simons (probable), Damian Lillard (game-time decision), Hassan Whiteside (out), Zach Collins (out) Jusuf Nurkic (out)
Cavaliers injuries: Kevin Love (questionable), John Henson (out), Dylan Windler (out)
How to watch on TV: NBCSNW
How to stream: Blazer’s Edge Streaming Guide
Radio: 620 AM
SBN Affiliate: Fear the Sword

UPDATE: Jason Quick has updated Damian Lillard’s status:

ANOTHER UPDATE: Chris Haynes reports that Lillard is a go:

The Portland Trail Blazers continue their road trip with a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Last time out the Blazers lost to the Milwaukee Bucks by a score of 137-129. The short-handed Blazers put in a very respectable performance, rallying in the fourth quarter to threaten the Bucks’ lead. In the end though the Bucks put their foot on the gas and cruised past the Dame-less Blazers.

The Cleveland Cavaliers weren’t expected to be very competitive this year and they are living up to expectations. Losers of six in a row and on the second game of a road-home back-to-back, there really can’t be a more opportune time to take on Cleveland.

What to watch for

• Not too many assists... or maybe not? There is only one team in the NBA averaging fewer assists per game than the Cleveland Cavaliers: your Portland Trail Blazers. Could these two teams threaten the NBA record for fewest combined assists in a game (10)? Nope, but a man can dream, can’t he? Seriously though, the Blazers made an eye-popping 32 assists against the Bucks, so things may be looking up for Portland in that area.
• Kevin Love. If the national press is going to continually talk about Love going to Portland as if it is his undeniable destiny, we might as well scout him while we are in the neighborhood. Love is averaging 18.7 points per game and is pulling down 12.2 boards, not bad for the 31-year-old from Lake Oswego. Tune in, as this will be the last time the Blazers will be on the same court as Love until April 7. Unless...
• Energy. One of the biggest positives from the Blazers’ loss in Milwaukee was the sustained energy the players brought over all four quarters. Another similar effort is likely to pay dividends against Cleveland. The Cavaliers have had their own issues with effort this season, and they will be on short rest after flying back from Dallas Friday night. Given the short flight from Milwaukee and the extra day of rest for Portland there is no excuse for the Blazers to get out-worked.

What they’re saying

The Cavaliers are standing pat with their starting lineup according to Chris Fedor of cleveland.com:

After taking everything into account, on the heels of a lengthy and productive film session that focused on effort, accountability and challenging one another to give more each night, Beilein felt the best move was to stand pat with his rotation.

Learn more about Jordan Clarkson from King James Gospel’s Robbie DiPaola:

He is a player who will come off the bench and give the Cavs instant offense and has never met a shot he has not liked. With that comes both good and bad, but overall, Clarkson is in the midst of another solid campaign for the Wine and Gold.

The Blazers have a new uniform, and so do the Cavaliers as reported by Chris Fedor of cleveland.com:

Though not in so many words, the Cavaliers actually stuck a feather on their jerseys and called it macaroni.