2 min read • March 03, 2022
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One of the most injured squads in the NBA, the Portland Trailblazers, will travel to Phoenix to face the number one team in the Western Conference. Suns have their own injury issues with both stars Chris Paul and Devin Booker out of the lineup.
Suns SIC Health Score 71.7
Booker was placed in COVID-19 protocols meaning he will miss the matchup versus the Trailblazers tonight and likely more until fully cleared. The sharpshooter joins injured starting PG Chris Paul on the sidelines as he nurses a fractured thumb.
Having both stars out is a tremendous loss and will hurt the way the Suns run their offense. Paul and Booker combine for almost 41 points per game meaning the team from the desert will have to lean on hulking C DeAndre Ayton (FD $6,800) for offensive production.
Ayton has scored 20+ points in 3 of the last 4 games and will need to do so here if the Suns have any chance of competing in this game.
To help at guard, utility man Cameron Payne (FD $4,100) is listed as probable and will likely start at PG after missing the last 15 games due to a wrist ailment.
Blazers SIC Health Score 67.2
Elite scoring threat Damian Lillard has missed the 26 games due to an abdominal issue that lead to core muscle surgery. He will likely sit out the rest of the season with just 21 games left and the Blazers out of playoff position.
Hardworking C Josuf Nurkic will sit out the next few weeks due to plantar fasciitis of the foot and may very well sit out the remainder of the season with Lillard.
After trading away G C.J. McCollum at the trade deadline, the Blazers are effectively down all three stars from their projected started lineup from the beginning of the season.
This has opened the door for rising star Anfernee Simons (FD $6,700) to develop into a legitimate scoring option for the depleted Blazers. The 22-year-old has averaged 26.4 points in his last five game and should continue to handle the offense going forward.
Both teams are missing key starters heading into the primetime matchup leaving betting value on the table:
U225 Total Points
Anfernee Simons O23.5 Points
DeAndre Ayton O18.5 Points
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