Derrick Jones, Jr. Will Not Play vs. Bulls

The Portland Trail Blazers have lost yet another member of their starting lineup to injury. Derrick Jones, Jr. will not suit up when the Blazers face the Chicago Bulls on Saturday due to a left foot sprain suffered in Portland’s 104-101 loss to the Houston Rockets on Thursday night.

Jones joins CJ McCollum (fractured foot), Jusuf Nurkic (fractured ankle), and Robert Covington (questionable due to concussion protocol) on the injury report. That’s four-fifths of the lineup the Blazers started the season with. Zach Collins (surgery) was also projected to play high in the rotation. Essentially, the Blazers are fielding Damian Lillard and their second, sometimes third, unit.

Despite the injuries, the Blazers are 9-8, good for 8th place in the Western Conference. The Bulls game marks the third in a seven-game road swing. Portland will also face the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, February 1st, the Washington Wizards on Tuesday the 2nd, and the Philadelphia 76’ers on Wednesday the 4th before returning home.