Portland Trail Blazers

Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Matisse Thybulle (ankle) is on the injury report as questionable ahead of Saturday's game against the Nuggets. Due to right ankle impingement, he might be absent for a third consecutive game. Thybulle's absence opens up minutes for Dalano Banton and Rayan Rupert, who will also benefit from Anfernee Simons' (knee) exit from the lineup. Banton has looked very promising with the Trail Blazers and should play a big role against a weakened Denver squad that won't have Jamal Murray (ankle) and Nikola Jokic (back) available on Saturday.

Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton (elbow) could miss a second consecutive game on Saturday against Denver after the team listed him as doubtful on the injury report. Ayton was a late addition to the injury report on Friday ahead of a meeting with the Clippers and couldn't go due to a left elbow problem. Duop Reath took over as the starting center and tallied 13 points with three rebounds and a pair of steals. He appears poised for another start on Saturday against a Nikola Jokic-less Nuggets if Ayton can't shake off his injury. The 27-year-old has recorded 13.7 points and 5.8 rebounds in 17 starts overall this season.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (hamstring) has been listed as doubtful for Saturday's meeting with Denver. He missed a sixth straight game on Friday versus the Clippers, and it looks unlikely Grant will be ready to return to the lineup against the defending champions. Toumani Camara and Kris Murray should continue to benefit from Grant's absence, although they remain risky fantasy options due to their inconsistent play. With Anfernee Simons (knee) already out and Deandre Ayton (elbow) also questionable, Scoot Henderson could get a ridiculous number of shots on Saturday.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons (knee) won't be in the lineup on Saturday against Denver. He was on the injury report with a left knee injury ahead of Friday's clash with the Clippers and ended up exiting the game early because of a knee ailment. Simons' absence will likely lift Dalano Banton back into the first unit. He's had quite a bit of success as a member of the starting five, averaging 18.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in the role.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Matisse Thybulle (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Friday's game against the Los Angeles Clippers. This doesn't come as much of a surprise given the Blazers place in the standings. They will likely continue to rest their players at anything less than 100 percent. Kris Murray will move into the starting five with Thybulle unable to play. Murray has posted back-to-back double digit scoring games, but that doesn't mean too much. He'll be a low-end streaming option for Friday's game.