The Portland Trail Blazers will play the first home preseason game Wednesday night against Ratiopharm Ulm, a professional basketball team based in Germany.
Blazers coach Chauncey Billups returns to the bench after missing Sunday’s win at Sacramento. Billups was in Springfield, Mass., being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
The ceremony started while the Blazers were in the process of defeating the Kings, 105-85.
Billups watched a video of the game later.
“I thought it was awesome,” Billups said following Tuesday’s practice. “I thought we played our butts off. Defensively, I thought we were really good. We really pressured them. I thought it had an impact on them.”
Typically, against an international team such as Ratiopharm Ulm, the Blazers have dialed back the number of minutes played by regulars.
That might not be the case on Wednesday.
“I haven‘t really figured it out yet,” Billups said. “I‘m probably going to play everybody. We don’t have that many opportunities. Games are always different than practice. To be able to get those reps.”
The team, Billups continued, is still working to develop chemistry, which is best accomplished during games.
Billups said guard Anfernee Simons (ankle soreness) could return after missing the first two games. He practiced on Tuesday. But guard Matisse Thybulle (knee soreness) would remain out, along with guard Shaedon Sharpe (left posterior labral tear), and center Robert Williams III (hamstring).
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PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS VS. RATIOPHARM ULM
What: Trail Blazers (1-1) vs. Ratiopharm Ulm, 7 p.m., Wednesday.
Where: Moda Center
Radio: Rip City Radio (KPOJ 620 AM).
TV channel: KATU (Antenna: 2.2 in Portland).
Streaming: BlazerVision.
ODDS: Not available.
INJURIES
Blazers: Anfernee Simons (right ankle soreness) could return after missing the first two preseason games. Shaedon Sharpe (left shoulder posterior labral tear), Robert Williams III (left hamstring strain), and Matisse Thybulle (right knee soreness) are out.
RATIOPHARM ULM: Not available.
NEXT UP
The Blazers close their preseason schedule at 7 p.m., Friday against the Utah Jazz.
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-- Aaron Fentress | [email protected] | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)