The Portland Trail Blazers announced on Wednesday that Damian Lillard will be out at least the next three games while seeking “further evaluation and consultation” on his abdominal tendinopathy and be re-evaluated next week.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard will undergo further evaluation and consultation concerning his lower abdominal tendinopathy, the team announced today. Lillard will miss Portland's next three games against Miami (Jan. 5), Cleveland (Jan. 7) and Sacramento (Jan. 9). He will be reevaluated next week.
Lillard sat out of Portland's thrilling win over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday for injury management, the same designation that caused him to miss nearly two weeks of action to begin December. He's been dealing with the same nagging core injury for several years, and admitted in November that pain and discomfort in his midsection would be a factor throughout 2021-22.
Blazers coach Chauncey Billups told Bleacher Report's Sean Highkin on Tuesday that the team's decision-making brass would meet to discuss the possibility of shutting down Lillard for an extended period.
Portland, 14-22, currently sits at 12th in the Western Conference, a half-game back of the Sacramento Kings for the last spot in the play-in tournament. The Blazers owe a lottery-protected first-round pick to the Chicago Bulls as a result of the trade for the Larry Nance Jr., leading some to speculate that their best long-term course of action would be sidelining Lillard for the season's remainder while “tanking” to not just keep their draft pick, but vault towards the front of the lottery for the chance to select a blue-chip prospect.
Portland is 2-5 in the seven games Lillard has missed due to the injury so far this season.
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