Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard and Nassir Little to miss several games due to injury

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard reacts after being fouled in the first half during an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Monday, Nov. 29, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) AP
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The Portland Trail Blazers announced today that both All-Star guard Damian Lillard and backup forward Nassir Little will be out for several games while nursing injuries.

According to the team, an MRI confirmed that Lillard has lower abdominal tendinopathy. An MRI on Little confirmed a sprained left ankle.

Lillard will be re-evaluated in 10 days and Little in a week.

There has been no update provided on the status of Norman Powell, who missed the team’s last two games with a quad contusion.

Lillard has already missed two games this season became of his abdomen injury, which has impacted him at some point in each of the past few seasons. He sat out Tuesday night’s 110-92 win at home against Detroit. So did Little, who also missed Monday’s loss at Utah after injuring his ankle in Friday’s loss at Golden State.

The good news here for the Blazers (11-11) is that three of their next four games will be at home where they are 10-1. The lone road game is Dec. 8 at Golden State (18-3).

The Blazers then have a rare three days off before returning home to start another four-game homestand.

Should Lillard be declared healthy after 10 days, he could return to action Dec. 12 against Minnesota (11-10). Little, should he be determined healthy in a week, could be available to play at the Warriors.

The Blazers’ upcoming three games are Thursday against San Antonio (6-13), Saturday against Boston (11-10) and then Monday against the LA Clippers (11-10).

Blazers coach Chauncey Billups has already started Anfernee Simons twice in place of Lillard. Tony Snell started in place of Powell.

-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook).

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