Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons remain out for Portland

The Portland Trail Blazers upset the Phoenix Suns, 108-106 on Friday night without the services of Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons. They will have to work that same magic Saturday night at Phoenix because both star guards will be out again, a …

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Aaron J. Fentress @AaronJFentress
Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons out again for second game at Phoenix on Saturday: Source
The Blazers won 108-106 at Phoenix on Friday without both star guards.
oregonlive.com/blazers/2022/1…3:31 PM
Jeff Eisenband @JeffEisenband
Dame knows it’s everyone’s job to celebrate the buzzer-beater pic.twitter.com/q4PMEGJLfl12:11 PM

Aaron J. Fentress @AaronJFentress
Justise Winslow walked to the Blazers’ bench, his team down 17-11 at Phoenix, looked at Damian Lillard and said: “We’ve got a real shot to win this game.”
“Yeah, I know,” Lillard responded.
How Winslow helped lead the Blazers to an improbable victory.
oregonlive.com/blazers/2022/1…3:57 AM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
#Blazers 108 #Suns 106 F.
Jerami Grant 30 points, game winner at buzzer.
DNP: Damian Lillard (calf), Anfernee Simons (foot).
Devin Booker 25, Deandre Ayton 24.
Cam Johnson (knee) left arena on crutches. Chris Paul 4 FGAs.
Phoenix 6-2 (Both vs. Portland)
Meet again Saturday. pic.twitter.com/EDMkk0Jsup3:02 AM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Oof. Watching it back Jerami Grant definitely took extra steps on the game-winner. Suns still shouldn’t have been in that position against a Blazers team missing Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons though – 12:31 AM
Aaron J. Fentress @AaronJFentress
Jerami Grant wins it at the buzzer. 108-106 over the Suns.
Without Lillard and Simons.
Shocker. pic.twitter.com/5L1rp27zdz12:26 AM

Jason Quick @jwquick
Continued to be impressed by the Blazers’ early season. Effort is off the charts. Very few selfish plays. Love Winslow at point. Great minutes by Walker. Playing without Lillard and Simons, Portland up 10 at Phoenix at half. – 11:19 PM
Aaron J. Fentress @AaronJFentress
Blazers 59, Suns 49 at the half.
Portland’s defense has been extremely active and disruptive. Clearly, they are using a much larger lineup without Lillard and Simons. But they’re also shooting 54.5% and have hit on 6 of 13 threes. Suns shooting 39%. – 11:08 PM
Aaron J. Fentress @AaronJFentress
Blazers 52. Suns 39. Late 2nd.
Damian Lillard is very pleased with his team’s performance without him thus far. @Damian Lillard pic.twitter.com/SgyYdD3uq211:00 PM

Aaron J. Fentress @AaronJFentress
Strong first quarter for the Blazers playing at Phoenix without Lillard and Simons. Suns lead 28-25. Shaedon Sharpe has 8 points on 3-of-5 shooting. Keon Johnson has 5 off the bench and is playing some strong defense. – 10:36 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
DeRozan and Tatum are the first pair of opponents to each take 20+ free throws in the same game since Dame and PG in 2019. pic.twitter.com/E3jPTHIqMt10:14 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Chauncey Billups explains why he’s starting Justise Winslow at point guard as Damian Lillard remains out with right calf strain. #Suns #Blazers pic.twitter.com/blFUMoIECA10:11 PM

Aaron J. Fentress @AaronJFentress
Anfernee Simons, out Friday night at the Suns with foot inflammation, did some pregame drills. A good sign. pic.twitter.com/sCUfiLju1H9:04 PM

Aaron J. Fentress @AaronJFentress
Damian Lillard getting in some pregame work. He won’t play Friday night at the Suns. Coach Chauncey Billups said Lillard’s status for Saturday remains uncertain. pic.twitter.com/BI2VNhKN8R9:01 PM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons working out pregame. Hopefully we see ‘em back tomorrow night pic.twitter.com/AVSJly87GZ8:58 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“I think it’ll be soon, I don’t know how soon.” Chauncey Billups when asked about Damian Lillard (calf) availability for tomorrow’s game vs. #Suns in second of back-to-back. #Blazers pic.twitter.com/Clf1bfsnyl8:37 PM

Casey Holdahl @CHold
Also sounds like @Anfernee Simons might not be available tomorrow either, Chauncey Billups said the guard woke up Thursday “in a lot of pain.” – 8:34 PM
Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Chauncey Billups said Justise Winslow will start at the 1 for the Blazers in place of Lillard and Simons – 8:33 PM
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
Load Mismanagement is LIVE @Underdog__NBA w/@jphanned
– Warriors starters OUT
– Dame/Anferno OUT
– Giannis HELL
– Who gets Kyrie’s usage?
– Luka streak ends?
– Russ 6th Man
Massive slate
Talking abt it all the way through the closing bell.
Join us!
📺 https://t.co/44xWnO2KKc pic.twitter.com/X4zEgtjOTr6:34 PM

Aaron J. Fentress @AaronJFentress
It’s official. Anfernee Simons is out for tonight at Phoenix.
Billups at PG? pic.twitter.com/88MQSaR2rA4:24 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
#Blazers injury report Friday vs. #Suns:
OUT: Damian Lillard (right calf strain) Gary Payton II (return to competition reconditioning) Olivier Sarr (right wrist sprain)
DOUBTFUL: Trendon Watford (right hip flexor strain)
QUESTIONABLE: Anfernee Simons (left foot inflammation) – 5:07 AM
Casey Holdahl @CHold
Blazers injury report: Trendon Watford (right hip) is doubtful, Anfernee Simons (left foot) is questionable and Damian Lillard (right calf), Gary Payton II (return to competition reconditioning) and Olivier Sarr (right wrist) are out for Friday’s game versus the Suns. – 8:31 PM
Sean Highkin @highkin
Blazers just released their injury report for tomorrow’s game in Phoenix. Damian Lillard is listed as “Out” and Anfernee Simons is now “Questionable” with left foot inflammation. – 8:24 PM
Casey Holdahl @CHold
Grizzlies 111, Blazers 106: FINAL. 31 points, 8 assists for @Anfernee Simons. 23 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists for @Jusuf Nurkic. 23 points, 7 rebounds for @Jerami Grant. 10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists for @Keon Johnson. – 12:36 AM
Kevin Pelton @kpelton
Anfernee Simons is doing it again – 12:21 AM
Casey Holdahl @CHold
Grizzlies 78, Blazers 72: end of third quarter. 23 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists for @Jusuf Nurkic. 17 points, 5 assists for @Anfernee Simons. 12 points, 3 rebounds for @Jerami Grant. A real grinder tonight heading into the fourth. – 11:56 PM
Aaron J. Fentress @AaronJFentress
Memphis 52, Blazers 45 at halftime. Hideous game to watch. Both teams are clunky. Ja Morant leads Memphis with 12. Jusuf Nurkic leads the Blazers with 16 and 6. Anfernee Simons has 7 points and Shaedon Sharpe has 2. That duo is a combined 3 of 14 from the field. – 11:12 PM

More on this storyline

Jamie Hudson: Blazers Injury Report vs. Suns tonight: Damian Lillard (Right Calf; Strain), Gary Payton II (Return to Competition Reconditioning) and Olivier Sarr (Right Wrist; Sprain) are Out. Anfernee Simons (Left Foot; Inflammation) – OUT Trendon Watford (Right Hip; Flexor Strain) – OUT -via Twitter @JamieHudson_ / November 4, 2022
Justin Kubatko: Zach LaVine last night: ✅ 29 PTS ✅ 5 AST ✅ 5-11 3P LaVine scored 20 of his points in the fourth quarter, the sixth 20-point fourth quarter of his career. The only active players with more such games are LeBron James (8), Damian Lillard (8), and Russell Westbrook (7). pic.twitter.com/u9vdOtt0ED -via Twitter @jkubatko / November 2, 2022
Aaron J. Fentress: Anfernee Simons is questionable tonight at the Suns. A starting lineup of: Hart, Sharpe, Winslow, Grant and Nurkic could be problematic. -via Twitter @AaronJFentress / November 4, 2022
Casey Holdahl: “I ain’t never seen no bounce like that in my life… I ain’t got the most bounce on the team no more, it’s over with.” — @Anfernee Simons, former Dunk Contest winner, on @Shaedon Sharpe -via Twitter @CHold / October 29, 2022