With star Deni Avdija likely out again, Blazers square off with Hawks
Jrue Holiday and Deni Avdija have shared the court just once since Holiday sustained a right calf injury on Nov. 14.
Though Holiday returned earlier this week, Portland's top two players likely will not be together again Thursday night when the Trail Blazers host the Atlanta Hawks.
Avdija, a leading All-Star candidate, missed Tuesday night's 119-97 road loss against the Golden State Warriors with lower-back soreness and is listed as doubtful to play against the Hawks. The small forward played in each of Portland's first 40 games.
Holiday returned Sunday after a 27-game absence due to a calf strain. He is averaging 10 points but is just 6-of-19 shooting over his first two games.
On Tuesday, Holiday had 12 points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench against Golden State.
"He's not the Jrue that we know yet," Portland interim coach Tiago Splitter said. "He's shaking off that rust. It was a good game for him to get some rhythm."
Holiday's 4-of-12 shooting against Golden State alongside an equal number of assists and turnovers (three of each) back up Splitter's assertion.
"Just good to see him out there on the court competing and fighting," Splitter said. "... Don't forget he was out two months. It takes time. It's kind of like it is preseason again."
Not having Avdija was a rough deal for the Trail Blazers.
He's averaging 26.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.9 assists and has scored at least 20 points in 13 of his last 15 games. Avdija's rise is the biggest reason Portland is just three games below .500 at the midseason point.
But without him, the Trail Blazers committed 22 turnovers and had just 20 assists against Golden State. Portland also attempted only 17 free throws. Avdija is averaging 11.3 attempts himself this month.
"Without Deni, the team had to find a new identity to play, both offensive and defensively," Splitter said.
The loss was the second straight for the Trail Blazers following a season-best five-game winning streak.
Forward Jerami Grant (Achilles) is listed as questionable. He has missed the past 14 games.
The Hawks are 2-1 on a four-game road trip after falling 141-116 to the host Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. Atlanta had a three-game overall win streak halted.
Los Angeles shot 57.8% percent from the field, including a stellar 19 of 34 (55.9%) from 3-point range.
"We've got to get better collectively," Hawks coach Quin Snyder said of the defense. "It doesn't matter who's on the floor. We need five guys to be connected and be aggressive and be disciplined on the defensive end."
Nickeil Alexander-Walker made five 3-pointers and led Atlanta with 26 points but the club was outrebounded 47-32 and made just 13 of 46 3-pointers.
"They were the more aggressive team," Snyder said of the Lakers. "They were a lot more physical."
CJ McCollum scored 25 points in his second game with the Hawks since being acquired from Washington as part of the trade that sent Trae Young to the Wizards.
The 34-year-old McCollum, who is playing for his fourth team, played his first 8 1/2 seasons with the Trail Blazers.
Corey Kispert also played in his second game with Atlanta and scored 19 points. He had just two points in his Hawks' debut during Sunday's 124-111 road win over the Golden State Warriors.
Kristaps Porzingis (Achilles), Zaccharie Risacher (knee) and Luke Kennard (neck) all sat out against the Lakers. Kennard is questionable for Thursday while Porzingis and Risacher both have been ruled out for the fourth consecutive game.
This is the teams' first meeting this season. Portland swept the two-game set last season.