UPDATE: Deni Avdija (back) is available to play Tuesday vs. the Wizards.
The Portland Trail Blazers travel to the nation’s capital to face the Washington Wizards at 7 p.m. EST on Tuesday. However, star forward Deni Avdija’s status is in question for the opening game of tonight’s NBA slate.
Avdija is listed as questionable for tonight’s contest with a back issue, per the NBA’s official injury report.
It’s not an entirely shocking designation, especially with Avdija having missed back-to-back contests due to this back strain. He also missed three games between January 13-17 with a similar injury.
If Avdija doesn’t play tonight, Sidy Cissoko is likely to enter the starting lineup in his place once more. The forward started all three games in his teammate’s absence earlier this month and also worked into the starting five in each of the last two contests Avdija missed.
At 25 years old, Avdija is having the best year of his career in his second season with Portland. The 6-foot-8 forward averages a career-best 26.0 points and 6.9 assists per game this season, also tacking on 7.1 rebounds. Across his eight games in January, he’s produced 29.0 PPG with a usage rate of 32.9%.
The Trail Blazers sit 23-24 on the campaign and have been fighting to remain afloat near the .500 mark. They notably lost both of the most recent matchups Avdija missed, though they went 2-1 across the other stretch without him earlier this month.
Portland is listed as a 6.5-point road favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook tonight against the Wizards.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
