The Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns meet Tuesday, April 14, at 10:00 p.m. ET at Mortgage Matchup Center in a Western Conference play-in game with a postseason spot on the line. Phoenix enters as the No. 7 seed in the West at 45-37, while Portland is No. 8 at 42-40.
Portland’s injury report includes two names. Jerami Grant is listed as questionable with a right calf strain, and Damian Lillard is out because of left Achilles tendon injury management.
Grant has supplied 18.6 points per game across 57 appearances and remains one of the Blazers’ most important two-way scorers when available.
Portland still has enough production to stay dangerous, led by Deni Avdija’s 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game, along with Shaedon Sharpe’s 20.8 points and Jrue Holiday’s 16.3 points and 6.1 assists. Donovan Clingan has also given the Blazers a steady interior presence with 11.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game.
Phoenix has only one player on its injury report. Grayson Allen is questionable with left hamstring soreness, a situation worth monitoring because he averages 16.5 points and shoots 34.9% from 3-point range.
The Suns have more star power at the top, with Devin Booker averaging 26.1 points and 6.0 assists and Dillon Brooks adding 20.2 points per game. Phoenix also gets efficient frontcourt production from Mark Williams, who has averaged 11.7 points on 64.4% shooting, and the Suns have won their last matchup convincingly, beating Oklahoma City 135-103 on Sunday.
The season series has leaned toward Phoenix, which took two of three meetings. The Suns won 127-110 on Nov. 18 and 130-125 on Feb. 3, while Portland answered with a 92-77 win on Feb. 22.
Portland enters on a two-game winning streak after victories over the Kings and Clippers, while Phoenix has won one of its last two. With the injury report relatively short on both sides, availability could still decide whether this play-in game turns into a guard-driven shootout or a frontcourt battle.
