PREVIEW: Nets gets a look at red-hot Damian Lillard, Blazers

Thursday night’s game between the Brooklyn Nets and Portland Trail Blazers means a lot to one team and nothing to the other when it comes to their respective seeding in the 2020 NBA Playoffs.

The Nets are locked in at No. 7. Whatever transpires on Thursday can’t change that.

Portland has willed its way to the No. 8 slot in the Western Conferences after entering the Disney bubble as one of several teams trying to force a play-in game with the Memphis Grizzlies.

But, the Blazers still need the win on Thursday with Memphis, the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs nipping at their heels. So, the Nets could make life tough for Portland, but Jacque Vaughn does not want that to be Brooklyn’s focus on Thursday.

During his Zoom call with reporters on Wednesday, he stressed multiple times the Nets’ focus has to be on themselves:

For us, again, it’ll be about us — our preparation for the playoffs, some things that maybe we can get some feedback on and use in the game to get some live data and film work. But, it’ll be about us.

Coach Vaughn went deep on the eve of our last seeding game vs. the Blazers ➡️ "All guys in that starting unit will be available to start the game…looking forward to getting some rhythm back on the floor." 🎥 pic.twitter.com/saDBhMTAgC

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) August 12, 2020

Jamal Crawford (left hamstring strain) remains sidelined for the Nets. Chris Chiozza (right adductor tightness) and Donta Hall (right ankle sprain) are both questionable for Brooklyn.

Here’s the roster Portland is working with in the Disney bubble:

Jaylen Adams
Carmelo Anthony
Zach Collins
Wenyen Gabriel
Mario Hezonja
Jaylen Hoard
Damian Lillard
Nassir Little
CJ McCollum
Jusuf Nurkic
Anfernee Simons
Gary Trent Jr.
Hassan Whiteside

Brooklyn won the only other meeting between the two teams before the hiatus this season, 119-115. Spencer Dinwiddie scored 34 points and Kyrie Irving had 33, but Lillard led all scorers with 60.