The Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers will do battle on Thursday in a nationally televised game from the Rose Garden, but the home team may be without their All-Star power forward. LaMarcus Aldridge sprained his left ankle on Tuesday night in Portland's home loss to the Washington Wizards, stepping on the foot of Trevor Booker while coming down from a jump shot.
Aldridge did not make the trip with Portland to Golden State on Wednesday night to face the Warriors, and head coach Nate McMillan said on Wednesday that Aldridge is "doubtful" for Thursday night's game against the Clippers, and merely "hopeful" for Saturday's game against Atlanta.
Thursday will be the third game in as many nights for Portland, which would seemingly give the Clippers an inherent advantage, though they will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back set as well. If Portland is without Aldridge, who is averaging 22.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game this season, that swings the scale even more in the Clippers' favor.
Thursday is the third of four meetings between the Clippers and Trail Blazers, with each team winning at home once so far this season.
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