UPDATED 8:15 pm ET
UPDATE 8:15 pm ET: Wenyen Gabriel (quad) has been ruled out. This is big news for Hassan Whiteside, and it should also really help Mario Hezonja. Anfernee Simons is also a slight winner because the Blazers will have to go smaller.
UPDATE 7:30 pm ET: Rajon Rondo (back) will not play, so Alex Caruso should see a decent amount of work in the second unit with some overlap next to LeBron James. Dion Waiters (migraine) is also a game-time decision, so that could get J.R. Smith some extra run.
UPDATE 4:49 pm ET: Russell Westbrook (quad) will play around 25-28 minutes in this game, and he’ll start next to James Harden, Eric Gordon, Robert Covington and P.J. Tucker.
UPDATE 12:10 pm ET: George Hill (finger) is listed as probable. He’s not getting as much overlap with Eric Bledsoe and it would be Frank Mason out there in garbage time, so Hill isn’t the greatest play.
UPDATE 12:10 pm ET: Rajon Rondo (back) is questionable, but the Lakers may not put him out there given how likely they are to win tonight. This does make Alex Caruso a bit of a tougher sell as a punt play, but he wouldn’t get garbage time anyway.
The Saturday slate is going to look a lot like the Wednesday slate before the NBA protests. Of course, the one big difference here is that we know Russell Westbrook will play after going through 5-on-5 work. Westbrook was also expected to play on Wednesday, per The Athletic. He is likely looking at minutes in the mid 30s and should push the pace a bit as a possible play.
Westbrook’s pace increase should make a slightly bigger pie for the Houston offense. James Harden has been pretty solid when he’s next to Westbrook and no traditional center, putting up a per-36 line of 32/7/4 on really bad shooting because of a slump and a 34.1 usage rate. He’s still a fine play. Meanwhile, Eric Gordon takes a huge hit here based on his 85-minute sample with Westbrook, Harden and no traditional center at a 12.1 usage rate. Danuel House and Jeff Green also figure to take a big hit, and this may actually help Robert Covington because his defense is more important than Jeff Green’s offense now that Westbrook is on the scene.
Before the Westbrook news, the big item was Damian Lillard (knee) out for the season. Perhaps the biggest impact on the Dame injury is that this game has a huge chance to blow out. If you missed it yesterday, I’d highly suggest checking out Drew Dinkmeyer’s leverage article about blowouts on short slates (he had a great segment in the middle of Tuesday’s live show, too — ~7:00 – 16:00). The Blazers were already overmatched and had to take tough shots all game, and now it’s going to get even tougher. This might be over at halftime.
Coach Terry Stotts said he still has confidence in his guys and chalked up the loss to the Lakers making shots. That makes it sound like he won’t make too many changes in the frontcourt, and really he’s kind of boxed in on decisions anyway. C.J. McCollum will likely start with Gary Trent Jr., Carmelo Anthony, Hassan Whiteside and Jusuf Nurkic. Anfernee Simons should still find minutes close to 30, and he basically has to get the garbage time because the lack of bodies. Mario Hezonja should also be a decent bet for minutes, and Wenyen Gabriel should be out there as well for some low upside. The garbage time lineup would likely be Simons, Jaylen Adams, Mario, Gabriel and Jaylen Hoard.
If the Blazers can somehow keep this close, C.J. is likely going to be the play of the day. In 818 minutes without Dame in the regular season, C.J. sits at a per-36 line of 27.1 points, 5.0 boards, 6.1 dimes, 0.5 steals and 3.1 treys. In six games without Dame around the All-Star break, McCollum averaged 33.3 points, 5.3 boards, 8.3 dimes, 0.7 steals and 4.3 treys. Even three quarters of C.J. can get there.
Simons is still going to be a solid play today, and I don’t hate Mario either. Whiteside almost has to find 20-25 minutes somehow, so he’s still a solid option. Gary Trent Jr. also has to play huge minutes and will get more usage, so he’s a really solid play.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Orlando Magic, 3:30 pm ET
The Bucks have nobody on their injury report.
Aaron Gordon (hamstring) is out and left the bubble. Michael Carter-Williams (foot) remains out while Melvin Frazier (back) and Vic Law (Achilles) are questionable. Clifford went heavy on D.J. Augustin and Markelle Fultz , and that figures to happen again.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets, 6:30 pm ET
The Thunder have nobody on their injury report.
Russell Westbrook (quad) is back in action here, as mentioned above.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 9:00 pm ET
As mentioned up top, Damian Lillard (knee) is out, C.J. McCollum (back) is available and Nassir Little (dehydration) remains sidelined.
The Lakers have their usual probable parade with LeBron James (groin), Anthony Davis (back) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (knee) all probable. Rajon Rondo (back) is doubtful, so Alex Caruso, KCP and Danny Green should be safer on playing time.
