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UPDATE: Jan. 18, 1:39 p.m. — McCollum (left ankle sprain) has been ruled out for the
CJ McCollum is playing. Stotts didn’t know whether his minutes will be limited #RipCity
— Jamie Goldberg (@Jamiebgoldberg) January 7, 2020
With McCollum back, Gary Trent Jr. will go back to the bench. Anfernee Simons is also going to see less playing time, though we don’t know if CJ is 100%.
UPDATE: Jan. 6, 5:57 p.m. — McCollum is listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game vs. the Toronto Raptors.
Blazers Injury Report:
— Jamie Hudson (@JamieHudsonNBCS) January 6, 2020
CJ McCollum (Upper Respiratory Infection) is questionable for Tuesday’s game at Toronto.
UPDATE: Jan. 5, 5:40 p.m. — Gary Trent Jr. will start in place of McCollum vs. the Heat.
Gary Trent Jr. will start in place of CJ McCollum (upper respiratory illness). Jimmy Butler (back) is also out.
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) January 5, 2020
Portland Trail Blazers SG CJ McCollum has been ruled out for Sunday’s game vs. the Miami Heat due to an illness.
CJ McCollum (illness) is out for tonight’s game vs. Heat.
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) January 5, 2020
Holdahl also mentions that McCollum had been taking meds for the past few days but it hasn’t worked, so he’ll be out with an illness. This is a bit of a surprise move with just over an hour until this game starts at 6 p.m. ET. With McCollum sidelined, it seems like Damian Lillard will get a ton of usage, plus Jimmy Butler (back) is questionable, so if the Heat SG is out, all better for Dame.
The Blazers could opt to start either Mario Hezonja or Anthony Tolliver, moving Kent Bazemore over to SG next to Dame. Or Gary Trent Jr. could get into the lineup. I’d say the biggest beneficiaries from McCollum’s absence are Lillard and Carmelo Anthony.