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Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard expects to miss at least the next three or four games due to a groin strain, he told reporters at practice on Thursday. Lillard suffered the injury against the Memphis Grizzlies on Feb. 12. He did not participate in Thursday’s practice.
Damian Lillard says he’s not playing tomorrow and expects to miss “at least 3-4 games” if he had to guess.
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) February 20, 2020
Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune added that 3-4 games could be on the low end, according to Lillard, who didn’t mince words about how he’s feeling, saying he’s “sore as hell”.
, @Dame_Lillard says he will miss at least 3 or 4 games, “maybe 5 or 6,” as he recovers from his groin strain #RipCity
— kerry eggers (@kerryeggers) February 20, 2020
Damian Lillard says he guesses he'll miss 3-5 games for #RipCity with the groin injury he suffered against Memphis.
— AJ McCord (@AJ_McCord) February 20, 2020
Blazers play Pelicans, Pistons, Celtics, @ Pacers, @ Hawks in the next 5 games pic.twitter.com/Y2s1NTfNsO
Nate Mann here at Blazer’s Edge recently wrote about how Lillard’s absence would impact the Blazers’ offense.
Portland’s next five games are against four Eastern Conference teams and the Pelicans, the latter of which is on Portland’s heels for the final playoff spot.
Here are the Blazers' next 5 games, some/all of which Damian Lillard may miss.
— Timmay (@pdxTimmay) February 20, 2020
Fri: Pelicans (23-32)
Sun: Pistons (19-38)
Tues: Celtics (38-16)
Thurs: at Pacers (32-23)
Sat: at Hawks (15-41)
Portland’s first Lillard-less game is Friday when they host the Pelicans.