Danny Avdi’s injury is a bad sign for the Hawks game

As it is The Portland Trail Blazers are getting ready to open a home doubleheader on Thursday night against the Atlanta Hawks, the latest injury report involving news regarding one of the team’s top players.

Trail Blazers (19-22) listed forward Danny Avdia as questionable with lower back soreness on their injury report Thursday at noon, casting doubt on his availability for the matchup against the Hawks (20-22), scheduled for 10 p.m. ET at the Moda Center. Avdia’s status is a potential setback for Portland as it looks to gain an edge in the Western Conference standings.

Avdija last played in Sunday’s 123-114 loss to the New York Knickswhere, despite the defeat, he achieved one of his strongest performances of the season. The 25-year-old had 25 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block while shooting 8-for-17 from the field and 8-for-10 from the free throw line. He logged 38 minutes in the contest, continuing the hard work that has defined his season.

Danny Avdi’s injury clouds the Trail Blazers’ prospects against the Hawks

Through 40 games, Avdija is in the prime of his career and has become a central figure in Portland’s offense. He is averaging 26.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from three. He averaged 35.4 minutes per game and was a constant presence on both ends of the floor.

Portland’s injury report also included veteran forward Jeramie Grant, who was listed as questionable with left Achilles tendonitis. Grant has not played since Dec. 18, when he logged 40 minutes in a 134-133 overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings. In that game, Grant had 20 points, nine rebounds, five assists and one block while shooting 7-for-18 from the field.

Grant, 31, has appeared in 26 games this season, including 14 starts, and is averaging 20 points, four rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He is shooting 43.6 percent from the field, 38.9 percent from three-point range and a career-high 86.6 percent from the free throw line while playing 30.3 minutes per game.

With Avdia questionable and Grant questionable, Portland could find itself at a disadvantage as it opens its matchup against an Atlanta team looking to get back to .500.