The Portland Trail Blazers will face the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, November 12th, at 8:00 PM ET at the Smoothie King Center. Both teams enter the matchup with significant injury concerns that could impact their rotations.
Portland will be without Damian Lillard, Scoot Henderson, Matisse Thybulle, Blake Wesley, and Javonte Cooke. Lillard is managing his left Achilles tendon, while Henderson is sidelined with a left hamstring tear. Thybulle’s left thumb ligament tear and Wesley’s right foot fracture further limit the Blazers’ depth, and Cooke remains on a two-way G League assignment.
Deni Avdija is Portland’s leading scorer this season, averaging 25.5 points per game, while Jerami Grant adds 19.7 points per game. Jrue Holiday is averaging 17 points with 8.1 assists per game, and Donovan Clingan contributes 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds.
The Blazers have a 5-5 record so far, with a 2-3 road record.
New Orleans will be without key stars Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, Jordan Poole, and G League assignments Trey Alexander and Hunter Dickinson. Williamson is out with a left hamstring strain, while Murray continues recovery from a right Achilles rupture. Poole’s left quad strain also keeps him sidelined.
The Pelicans are 2-8 on the season and have struggled to protect home court, posting a 1-2 record at the Smoothie King Center.
Zion Williamson leads the Pelicans with 22.8 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game, while Trey Murphy III is averaging 18.1 points and 7.0 rebounds. Jordan Poole had been contributing 17.3 points per game before his injury, and Herbert Jones is adding 13.9 points along with 2.8 assists.
Portland has recently lost two of its last three games, including a 112–115 defeat at Orlando on November 10th. The Blazers are hoping for contributions from Jerami Grant, Deni Avdija, Jrue Holiday, and Shaedon Sharpe to compensate for their missing stars.
The Pelicans, meanwhile, are coming off a 98–121 road loss to Phoenix and are seeking a bounce-back performance at home.
