NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Portland Trail Blazers have scratched starting forward Maurice Harkless from Tuesday night's game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Blazers coach Terry Stotts says he learned a few hours before tip-off that Harkless' left knee soreness would sideline him for a game that could hold playoff implications for both teams.
The Pelicans say guard Rajon Rondo is missing his second straight game with a sprained right wrist, while forward Nikola Mirotic is available to play after also missing last Saturday night's loss at Houston with a sore right hip flexor.
Portland arrived in New Orleans in third place in the Western Conference, but just 2 ½ games ahead of the fifth-place Pelicans.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Corey Brewer (3) goes to the basket defended by Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless (4) in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Sunday, March 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
___
More NBA basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.