The Portland Trail Blazers are set to make an intriguing choice with their starting lineup for the preseason opener against the Golden State Warriors. The game will take place at the Chase Center on Wednesday night. In a surprising move, Blazers coach Chauncey Billups has named Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara, Jerami Grant, and Donovan Clingan as the starters, with Deni Avdija coming off the bench.
Trail Blazers’ Starting Lineup Details
- Jrue Holiday
- Shaedon Sharpe
- Toumani Camara
- Jerami Grant
- Donovan Clingan
This rotation reflects Billups’ strategy of experimenting with different combinations during the preseason. He stated he planned to “tinker” with various lineups, possibly changing starters for each of the Blazers’ four exhibition games. The intent is to analyze players’ performances and build chemistry.
Warriors’ Starting Lineup
The Golden State Warriors will counter the Blazers with a formidable starting five, including:
- Steph Curry
- Moses Moody
- Jimmy Butler
- Draymond Green
- Al Horford
The game will kick off at 7 p.m., making it a highly anticipated matchup for fans of both teams. Additionally, the Blazers released an injury report detailing player absences that include:
- Scoot Henderson (left hamstring tear)
- Robert Williams III (return to competition)
- Damian Lillard (left Achilles tendon injury)
- Matisse Thybulle (right knee soreness)
This preseason opener is expected to give insights into the Trail Blazers’ strategies. Billups’ decision-making will be closely watched as he continues to explore potential lineups and rotations throughout the exhibition season.
