The Portland Trail Blazers fell to the Golden State Warriors 104-94 at Chase Center on Wednesday, their fourth straight loss by double figures. Fortunately for Chauncey Billups' woefully depleted team, though, much-needed reinforcements are on the way — perhaps the next time Portland takes the floor.

After the game, the Blazers' rookie head coach was asked about Damian Lillard's status for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“I'm hopeful that he can get back soon,” Billups said. “I'm not sure if that's gonna be the next game or the following game. But just to know that he's close to is helpful or all of us.”

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Lillard last played in Portland's loss to the Utah Jazz on Nov. 29. Two days later, after he sat out against the Detroit Pistons on the second half of a back-to-back, the Blazers announced Lillard would be sidelined for at least the next 10 days due to ongoing management of his lower abdominal tendinopathy. They're 1-5 without him in the lineup this season.

On Wednesday morning, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported that Lillard received a cortisone injection to alleviate the pain in his midsection. He's scheduled to be reevaluated on Friday morning before a decision is made on his availability against Minnesota.

Getting Lillard back won't solve all of Portland's problems. It's not guaranteed Anfernee Simons and Cody Zeller, originally questionable versus Golden State before being ruled out, will be healthy enough to play come Sunday. There's still no timeline for CJ McCollum to return from a collapsed lung.

But Billups lauded his team's effort and intensity after Wednesday's game, predicting it would yield a different result — no matter the quality of the competition — once the Blazers are fully healthy. Just the possibility of Lillard taking the floor in Portland's next game is the biggest step toward getting there.