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Andrew LopezESPN
NEW ORLEANS — Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard was downgraded to out ahead of Sunday night’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans, the team announced about 45 minutes before tipoff.
Lillard was listed on the injury report as probable with right calf tightness and went through his warmup before the team opted to rest him.
The Trail Blazers are finishing a six-game road trip in New Orleans on Sunday but have eight of their next nine games at home.
Portland is 31-36 this season, 1.5 games behind the Utah Jazz (33-35) for the final spot in the play-in tournament. Ahead of Portland are New Orleans and the Oklahoma City Thunder, both 32-35 and seeking a play-in berth as well.
Lillard has played in 54 games this season and had missed just one game since Dec. 4: the first game after the All-Star break, when the team rested him and Jerami Grant after weather delayed the team’s flight to Sacramento.
Lillard is averaging a career-high 32.7 points per game this season and scored a career-best 71 points on Feb. 26 in a game against the Houston Rockets.
Portland’s next game is at home Tuesday against the New York Knicks.