It is a Sunday night in mid-January, and if you are looking at the Portland Trail Blazers starting lineup tonight, you probably noticed something immediately. This team is a bit of a jigsaw puzzle right now. Between the long-term absences and the nagging day-to-day stuff, Chauncey Billups is basically playing a high-speed game of Tetris with his rotation.
The Blazers are rolling into the Golden 1 Center to face the Sacramento Kings at 6:00 PM PT. It’s a back-to-back. Just 24 hours ago, they were grinding out a 132-116 win over the Lakers at home. Now they’ve hopped a flight to NorCal to deal with a Kings team that is surprisingly hot at home despite their overall record.
Portland sits at 21-22. They are flirting with .500 and the play-in picture. Honestly, for a team that lost its generational superstar a couple of seasons ago and has been navigating a mess of injuries lately, being in the hunt feels like a minor miracle. But to stay there, they need their patchwork lineup to hold firm against a Sacramento squad led by guys like DeMar DeRozan and a rejuvenated Russell Westbrook.
The Projected Portland Trail Blazers Starting Lineup Tonight
Injuries have dictated the terms here. Damian Lillard is out for the season with that brutal Achilles injury. Scoot Henderson is still sidelined with his hamstring issue. This leaves the backcourt in the hands of the veterans and the hungry young wings.
Jrue Holiday will likely lead the way at point guard. He was a game-time decision yesterday with a calf strain but played through it, and with Scoot out, his steady hand is non-negotiable. Joining him in the backcourt is Shaedon Sharpe. Sharpe has been a revelation lately. He just put up 24 points and 9 boards against the Hawks earlier this week, and he’s becoming the go-to scoring option when the game gets tight.
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On the wing, Toumani Camara is the defensive glue. He isn’t going to wow you with 30 points, but he’s usually tasked with guarding the opponent's best perimeter player. Tonight, that likely means a long night trying to bother DeRozan.
The frontcourt is where things get interesting. Deni Avdija is the statistical engine of this team right now. He leads active Blazers in scoring (26.1 PPG) and assists (6.9 APG). He’s dealing with a bit of a back issue—listed as day-to-day—but if he’s upright, he’s starting. At center, the rookie Donovan Clingan has taken over the starting role. He’s a massive human being, averaging over 10 rebounds and nearly 2 blocks per game. Watching him bang down low against the Kings' interior will be a physical battle.
The Injury Report Shuffle
You can't talk about the lineup without looking at the "Out" list. It's long.
- Damian Lillard: Out (Achilles)
- Scoot Henderson: Out (Hamstring)
- Matisse Thybulle: Out (Knee/Thumb)
- Kris Murray: Out (Lower back strain)
- Blake Wesley: Out (Foot)
Because of all these holes, we’re seeing guys like Sidy Cissoko and Rayan Rupert get real minutes. Even Yang Hansen was just recalled from the Rip City Remix to provide some emergency depth. It's "next man up" in the truest, most exhausting sense of the phrase.
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Why This Specific Matchup Matters
The Kings might be 12-30, but don't let that record fool you. They’ve won four straight at home. They play differently at the Golden 1 Center. Russell Westbrook has been turning back the clock lately, shooting over 40% from deep in his last few games, which is... unexpected, to say the least.
Portland's defense has been middle-of-the-pack, allowing about 118 points per game. They are actually a decent road team compared to previous years, but playing the second night of a back-to-back in a different city is always a recipe for "heavy legs."
Deni Avdija is the player to watch. If his back holds up, he has a massive mismatch against the Kings' wings. He’s been playing like an All-Star over the last 10 games, and Portland's offense basically grinds to a halt when he’s off the floor.
Tactical Keys for the Blazers
First, they have to win the glass. Clingan is great at this, but he needs help from Sharpe and Camara. The Kings aren't a great rebounding team, and if Portland can limit them to one shot per possession, they win this game.
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Second, they need to survive the "Westbrook minutes." When Russ gets going in transition, he can ignite a Sacramento crowd like nobody else. Jrue Holiday’s primary job tonight isn't scoring 20; it's keeping the pace under control.
Finally, the bench scoring has to exist. With Jerami Grant also battling a calf issue and being a game-time decision, guys like Caleb Love and Robert Williams III have to provide a spark. Williams III is finally back in the rotation and his rim protection off the bench is huge for Portland’s second unit.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you are tracking the portland trail blazers starting lineup tonight for fantasy or betting reasons, keep a very close eye on the official "active" list 30 minutes before tip-off.
- Watch the Avdija News: If Deni is out, the Blazers lose their primary playmaker. Expect Shaedon Sharpe’s usage rate to skyrocket.
- The Over/Under: The line is set around 228.5. Both teams have been hitting the "over" frequently lately, but Portland’s fatigue on a back-to-back might lead to a slower, sloppier game.
- Clingan Props: Look for the rookie's rebounding totals. Sacramento struggles with size, and Clingan is as big as they come.
The game tips off at 9:00 PM ET (6:00 PM PT). You can catch it on KUNP in the Portland area or NBC Sports California if you’re in the valley. If you’re streaming, Fubo is the standard go-to for local NBA coverage.
Portland has a chance to claw back to .500 tonight. It won't be pretty, and it definitely won't be easy with half the roster in the training room, but this specific group of Blazers has shown a lot of grit lately. Keep your eyes on the injury updates right up until the ball drops.
Next Steps:
Check the official NBA Injury Report at 5:30 PM PT for the final confirmation on Deni Avdija and Jerami Grant. If both are out, expect Sidy Cissoko to join the starting five. Verify the broadcast schedule on the Rip City Radio 620 AM app if you're stuck in traffic during tip-off.