Jason Quick: Damian Lillard says his strained right hamstring is making “big progress.” Says he definitely will play in Blazers’ next game, Dec. 28 vs. Philadelphia
More on Damian Lillard Injury
Chris Haynes: Portland All-Star guard Damian Lillard (hamstring strain), who is out tonight against Denver, also expected to miss Saturday’s game at Los Angeles Lakers as a precaution, league sources tell ESPN. The next game for Trail Blazers would be hosting Philadelphia Dec. 28.
Joe Freeman: Damian Lilard said he hurt himself when Pau Gasol, at full speed, collided into the back of his right knee. "I couldn't move," Lillard said, acknowledging he was basically a decoy down the stretch.
Despite the rolled ankle, noticeable discomfort, and around-the-clock treatment, Lillard seems determined to face the Sixers. Lillard, who did not participate in practice, said he is looking forward to the matchup. “I told y’all that yesterday,” Lillard said, referring to previously saying he planned on playing in Philadelphia. “I pretty much got babied last night so it was good…I feel good.”
Jason Quick: Blazers report that Damian Lillard has a right ankle sprain, but list him as probable to play Tuesday at Dallas.
Chris Haynes: ESPN Sources: Portland guard Damian Lillard to return tonight against Los Angeles Lakers. Missed last five games with ankle sprain.
"It feels way better, I went through a full speed workout with no limitations," said Lillard after Saturday's practice in Minneapolis. "I would have did our stuff with the group where we did some defensive stuff against a shell, not really full contact. I would have did that but I didn’t want to get in the way of any of the guys that’s going to be playing, so I stayed out of that. I did the shooting stuff before we did that, I did my own little workout at the end for the last 20 minutes or so, full speed normal stuff. It felt pretty good. Some stuff, it didn't hurt but I wasn’t really comfortable with it. It wasn’t completely comfortable, so just going to keep working out and keep working that swelling out, that soreness out, trying to get back. I’m not going to rush it, at this point I might as well wait until completely ready to go."
Kerry Eggers: ‘@DamianLillard_0 (ankle) hopes to return Friday vs. Spurs, "but we’ll have to see. (The ankle) feels better, but it’s day to day.”
Chris Haynes: Portland guard Damian Lillard to miss his second consecutive contest tonight against Sacramento with ankle sprain, league sources tell ESPN.
Yes, things moved from bad to worse Friday for the Blazers. The San Antonio Spurs rolled the Blazers 110-90 at the Moda Center, dealing them their fifth consecutive loss and ninth in the last 10 games. And on top of it all, the Blazers' best player limped away from the wreckage with a badly sprained left ankle. "I rolled it good, I know that for a fact," Lillard said. "I've just got to do all that I can so I can try to be ready for the next one."
Shams Charania: Vertical Sources: Portland star Damian Lillard won't play in 2016 Olympics with Team USA as he continues to rehab plantar fasciitis injury.
As of right now, Lillard doesn’t sound like he’s still fully comfortable. Stiffness in the foot, after nearly two weeks of stretching and massages to get the foot right, and conditioning, more than soreness, are his main concerns. “I’m building my wind back,” Lillard said. “It’s just a little bit of stiffness because I haven’t made certain movements. For five years now I’ve been constantly doing this stuff every day. But two weeks of just stretches, massages and stuff like that. If I get back there it’s going to be a little stiff.”
Lillard said that he also worked out hard on the foot in a New Year’s evening workout with assistant coach David Vanterpool and guard Tim Frazier. “I’ve been working out hard on the court for a couple of days,” Lillard said. “Last night I came in and worked out hard on it. This is the second time I’ve practiced even though (this one had) more contact. It’s more about being on the floor. I haven’t played in almost two weeks now. I’m not just going to get out there a few times and bring something to the game.”
At this point, Lillard said, he's more concerned with regaining his playing stamina, which has taken a hit during his 11-day absence. Lillard said he will evaluate how his foot responds Sunday morning, test it during a morning shootaround and then make a pregame decision about whether he'll play when the Blazers visit the Denver Nuggets at 6 p.m. He said he would prefer not to be on a minutes-restriction whenever he returns and coach Terry Stotts said that will be decided by Lillard and the Blazers' medical staff. Could Lillard have played Thursday, when the Blazers lost to Utah? Probably. But he wants to make sure when he returns, he returns for good. "Once I'm back, I'm back," he said.
Chris Haynes: #Blazers G Damian Lillard (plantar fasciitis) will miss fifth straight game when his team takes on Nuggets tonight, league sources says.
After missing the last four games and possibly more, Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard has a new nickname. “Coach Lillard, that’s what they call me now,” Lillard said following Tuesday’s practice where the two-time All-Star said he participated in some “live” drills but was still not a full participant. Whether Lillard has to embrace the suit and chatting up referees during timeouts instead of throughout the entire game is still an uncertain matter. The pain from an ongoing battle with plantar fasciitis is gone in his left foot, but Lillard is still waiting for the comfort to return. “It’s just a little bit stiff,” Lillard said after running on the left foot. “I haven’t played on it. I have been so busy trying to take care of it and do the right stuff that it’s a little bit stiff.”
After allowing a more battled-tested team to steal another winnable game away from them, this was the scene in the Blazers' locker room afterward: All-Star Damian Lillard limped around in noticeable pain with a bout of plantar fasciitis in his left heel.
