Many are concerned about Deni Avdija’s back injury that he sustained on Thursday, January 23. The Portland Trail Blazers forward was taken out of the game early in the third quarter in the game against the Miami Heat after getting hit by Andrew Wiggins. He was later seen with a wrap applied to his back. While he was able to score 20 points and 7 rebounds up to that point, the 25-year-old did not return the game despite the fact that the injury did not seem to be serious. However, a new report reveals that he could be out for at least another game.
Avdija is unlikely to be in Friday’s game against Raptors
Deni Avdija has been marked “doubtful” in his return to lineup for Friday’s match against the Toronto Raptors, according to the official NBA injury report released at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET.
The report states that Avdija still has a strain in his lower back. This is despite interim head coach Tiago Splitter saying Thursday night, per ESPN, that Avdija would be fine.
That said, “doubtful” doesn’t mean that he’s completely out of the game, only that it is unlikely that he will play (around a 25% chance or less). Still, as a result, it is possible that we will see the team rely on Jerami Grant, Sidy Cissoko, and Rayan Rupert for as long as the forward is out.
Unfortunately for the Blazers, Avdija has been added to a growing list of players still sidelined for the team. Five players are still “out,” specifically Scott Henderson with a torn left hamstring, Damian Lillard with an injured left Achilles tendon, Kris Murray with a strained lumbar, Matisse Thybulle with a right knee injury, and Blake Wesley with fractured right root. Meanwhile, two are still “questionable” — Duop Reath with a sore right foot and Robert Williams III with an injured left knee — but it’s possible that we might see them in play in Friday’s game.
Several injuries that are more serious than Avdija’s in the NBA include Nikola Jokic’s knee injury and Jimmy Butler’s knee injury.
