Anfernee Simons and CJ McCollum will start in the backcourt for the Portland Trail Blazers Monday at the Orlando Magic.
The return of McCollum from a collapsed lung to go along with the elite play lately from Simons should give the Blazers close to the level of guard play they experienced with Damian Lillard in the lineup.
That’s how well Simons has been playing in Lillard’s absence.
Slowly, but surely, the Blazers are getting back key players. Norman Powell is listed as questionable after missing four games while in health and safety protocols. Larry Nance Jr. is also expected back soon.
McCollum’s return, with Lillard out for at least six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair an injured abdomen, is the most important development. The Blazers offensively have been inconsistent during the last seven games, which have produced four victories. In three losses, the Blazers averaged just 106 points per game.
But how much offense could McCollum deliver right away after being out since Dec. 4? Billups said he will monitor McCollum’s conditioning but didn’t believe that he would want to play limited minutes.
What could be interesting to see is how Simons reacts to playing alongside McCollum, who became a father last week. Simons has averaged 28.3 points per game since Jan. 3 while taking 19.2 shots per game. Billups doesn’t foresee there being an issue and wants Simons to continue playing the way he’s been playing. A trio of Simons, McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic should be tough for the 8-36 Magic to contend with.
“I’m going to talk to him but I don’t think (Simons) needs to make any adjustments,” Billups said. “I think he needs to continue to be aggressive. His aggression is gonna open up opportunities for CJ. CJ’s aggression is going to alleviate pressure off of him, as well. And then also just having Nurk just playing so aggressive and just manning that is going to take a lot of pressure off of everybody to.”
Portland has won nine consecutive games against Orlando, which will be without Wendell Carter Jr. (hamstring).
THREE-POINT SHOOTING
Portland ranks sixth with 38 three-point attempts per game and the Magic rank 11th at 36.4. The Blazers are far more efficient, making 35.7% (10th) compared to 32.3% (27th) for Orlando.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS AT ORLANDO MAGIC
What: Trail Blazers (17-25) at Magic (8-36), 4 p.m. Monday
Where: Amway Center, Orlando.
Radio: Rip City Radio (KPOJ 620 AM).
TV channel: Root Sports Plus (in Portland: Comcast 1253, DirecTV 687-1).
Watch the game live online: You can watch this game live for FREE with fuboTV (free trial). You can also get this game on DirecTV Stream’s “CHOICE” package (promotional offers), if you are out of fuboTV trials, or simply prefer that platform and their pricing plans. If you already have a cable or satellite provider that carries Root Sports and want to watch online, you can watch this game live on Root Sports Live.
ODDS
Moneyline: POR -110 | ORL -110
Spread: ORL -2.5 | Over/Under: 215
INJURIES
Blazers: Norman Powell (covid recovery) is questionable; CJ Elleby (right ankle sprain) is doubtful; Damian Lillard (core muscle recovery), Larry Nance Jr. (right knee inflammation) and Cody Zeller (right patellar fracture) are out.
Magic: Wendell Carter Jr. (left hamstring; sore), Michael Carter-Williams (left ankle; injury recovery), Markelle Fultz (left knee; injury recovery), Jonathan Isaac (left knee; injury recovery) and E’Twaun Moore (left knee; sprain) are out.
NEXT UP
The Blazers continue their six-game trip Wednesday at Miami, Friday at Boston and then Sunday at Toronto. Portland’s next home game is Jan. 25 against Minnesota.
-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook).
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