DECEMBER 8, 2022 • SACBEE.COM
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS 19-29 · 13TH IN WESTERN CONFERENCE
19-29 · 13TH IN WESTERN CONFERENCE
Next Game vs Suns · Sun 3:00AM
Nuggets-Trail Blazers NBA Odds, Spread, Over/Under and Props Spread, over/under and props bets for Thursday’s Nuggets-Trail Blazers game in Portland. The Trail Blazers are small home favorites.
SE Louisiana wins 107-71 against Belhaven
Led by Nick Caldwell's 23 points, the SE Louisiana Lions defeated the Belhaven Blazers 107-71 on Wednesday nightDECEMBER 8, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gary Payton II - Remains out Thursday Payton (abdomen) won't play in Thursday's game against Denver, Casey Holdahl of the Trail Blazers' official site reports
Impact Although participating fully in practice nowadays, Payton will need at least one more game to recover from his abdomen injury. The guard will have a good chance to make his season debut Saturday against Minnesota.
DECEMBER 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Drew Eubanks - Probable Thursday Eubanks (back) is probable Thursday against Denver, Casey Holdahl of the Trail Blazers' official site reports.
Impact Barring any major setback pregame, Eubanks will be active for the Blazers on Thursday. Eubanks posted two points, five rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block in 16 minutes Sunday against the Pacers.
DECEMBER 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Keon Johnson - Likely to play Thursday Johnson (hip) is probable Thursday against Denver, Casey Holdahl of the Trail Blazers' official site reports.
Impact It appears that Johnson will be active for the first time since Nov. 5 against the Suns due to a lingering hip injury. The guard has scored in double figures two times in six appearances.
DECEMBER 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Josh Hart - Probable Thursday Hart (ankle) is probable for Thursday's game against Denver, Casey Holdahl of the Trail Blazers' official site reports.
Impact Hart returned to action Sunday after missing two games from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 with the ankle injury. Barring any major setbacks before tipoff, Hart will presumably resume his normal starting role versus the Nuggets.
DECEMBER 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Gary Payton II - Fully participates in practice Payton (abdomen) fully practiced Wednesday, Sean Highkin of RoseGardenReport.com reports.
Impact Payton hasn't yet made his season debut after undergoing offseason core surgery, but he's been listed out for the last two games due to return to competition conditioning. It's not yet clear whether he'll be able to suit up Thursday against the Nuggets, but his full participation in practice is certainly a step in the right direction.
DECEMBER 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Denver faces Portland, looks to end 3-game skid
Denver aims to end its three-game skid when the Nuggets take on PortlandDECEMBER 7, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Josh Hart - Strong production in return Hart (ankle) finished with 11 points (5-8 FG, 1-3 3Pt), 10 rebounds, three assists and three steals across 33 minutes in Sunday's 116-100 win over the Pacers.
Impact Though the return of Damian Lillard (calf) from a seven-game absence was the main storyline for the Trail Blazers, Hart's return from a two-game absence of his own was a welcome development. The third-year wing delivered a productive all-around showing while taking back his spot in the starting five, coming away with his second double-double of 2022-23 while tying his season-high mark in steals.
DECEMBER 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Jerami Grant - Scores team-high 28 points Grant produced 28 points (9-21 FG, 3-10 3Pt, 7-7 FT), five rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes during Sunday's 116-100 victory over the Pacers.
Impact Even though Damian Lillard (calf) returned from a seven-game absence and Anfernee Simons was coming off a career-high 45-point performance on night earlier, Grant was the Blazers' surprise scoring leader Sunday. Expect Lillard and Simons to do most of the heavy lifting for Portland moving forward, but Grant should continue to enjoy enough usage to remain a productive third option on offense. Grant is in the midst of the best scoring spree of his career, having averaged 32.2 points on 47.7 percent shooting from the field and 41.7 percent shooting from distance over his last six outings.
DECEMBER 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Anfernee Simons - Goes for 22 points in win Simons amassed 22 points (8-14 FG, 5-9 3Pt, 1-1 FT), three rebounds, six assists and one steal across 36 minutes during Sunday's 116-100 win over Indiana.
Impact Simons couldn't repeat his career-best performance from Saturday against the Jazz, but he still posted a solid stat line even though his numbers were expected to decrease following the return of Damian Lillard to the starting lineup. Even when he has to co-exist with Lillard in the backcourt, and considering what that implies in terms of a decrease in touches, Simons should remain a focal point on offense for the Blazers.
DECEMBER 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Damian Lillard - Stages successful return Lillard (calf) amassed 21 points (7-16 FG, 5-10 3Pt, 2-2 FT), six assists, four rebounds, one block and one steal in 32 minutes during Sunday's 116-100 victory over the Pacers.
Impact Back in action after a seven-game absence due to a right calf strain, Lillard didn't face any minutes restrictions and was able to deliver a solid stat line while marking off each of the main statistical categories. Aside from the Nov. 19 game against the Jazz in which he exited early due to injury, Lillard has now scored at least 20 points in all but one of his other 11 appearances on the season. He has yet to reach the efficiency levels of his peak seasons, however, as he's shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 34.7 percent from beyond the arc.
DECEMBER 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Jerami Grant Highlights (28 points) | Portland Trail Blazers | Dec. 4, 2022
DECEMBER 5, 2022 • YOUTUBE
Trail Blazers 116, Pacers 100 | Dec. 4, 2022 | Game Highlights
DECEMBER 5, 2022 • YOUTUBE
Damian Lillard: "I felt really good" | Portland Trail Blazers vs Indiana Pacers | Dec. 4
DECEMBER 5, 2022 • YOUTUBE
Trail Blazers beat Pacers in Lillard's return from injury
Jerami Grant scored 28 points and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Indiana Pacers 116-100 on Sunday nightDECEMBER 5, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Damian Lillard Talks about his RETURN, Postgame Interview
DECEMBER 5, 2022 • YOUTUBE
Indiana Pacers vs Portland Trail Blazers - Full Game Highlights | December 4, 2022 NBA Season
DECEMBER 5, 2022 • YOUTUBE
PACERS at TRAIL BLAZERS | NBA FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | December 4, 2022
DECEMBER 5, 2022 • YOUTUBE
Damian Lillard RETURNS! 21 PTS 5 THREES Full Highlights vs Pacers 🔥
DECEMBER 5, 2022 • YOUTUBE
Trendon Watford - Shifting back to bench Watford will return to the bench for Sunday's game against the Pacers, Dustin Dopirak of the Indy Star reports.
Impact With Josh Hart back from injury, Watford will head back to the bench after a two-game stint as a starter. In those two contests, the LSU product logged a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double against the Lakers and nine-point, 14-rebound effort against the Jazz.
DECEMBER 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Justise Winslow - Headed back to bench Winslow will return to the bench for Sunday's game against the Pacers, Dustin Dopirak of the Indy Star reports.
Impact Winslow started all but one game during Damian Lillard's absence, but with the star guard back Sunday, he'll move to a reserve role. Winslow tends to be hit-or-miss on a night-to-night basis, but over his six starts he posted 9.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
DECEMBER 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Damian Lillard available for Portland Trail Blazers vs. Indiana Pacers: Live updates, time, TV channel, how to watch free live stream online Blazers start a four-game home stand against the Pacers.
DECEMBER 5, 2022 • OREGONLIVE.COM
Drew Eubanks - Will be available Eubanks (hip) will be available Sunday against Indiana.
Impact The big man was questionable coming in but will be available for coach Chauncey Billups after missing Saturday's win at Utah. Of late, Eubanks has been playing roughly 15 minutes per night off the bench. He's not fantasy-relevant in most formats, though he has racked up 1.5 blocks per game over his last eight contests.
DECEMBER 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Josh Hart - Good to go Sunday Hart (ankle) will be available Sunday against Indiana.
Impact Hart missed the last two games with an ankle injury, but he'll return to action after carrying a questionable tag into the day. The veteran has been a high-minute player for the Blazers all season. He's up to a career-high 35.7 minutes per game, which he's translated to 9.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.4 steals.
DECEMBER 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
