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Mo Williams sidelined again for Game 5, cue Will Barton

Soobum Im / Reuters

The Portland Trail Blazers will again be without veteran guard Mo Williams when they look to extend their series against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.

Trailing three games to one in the series, Portland is back in San Antonio, where they dropped the first two games to fall into a 2-0 hole. Like they did in their series-extending Game 4 win, they'll have to turn to less experienced options than the 31-year-old Williams, who has a strained groin.

Williams may be a steady hand but he hadn't played particularly well through eight playoff games, averaging 7.4 points and 1.9 assists in 23.4 minutes while shooting 37.3 percent from the floor.

In Game 3, Portland had no solution, relying on their starters heavily until defeat was all but secured. In Game 4, however, sophomore Will Barton answered the call, scoring 17 points with six rebounds in 30 minutes off the bench. This, after Barton had played just 32 minutes in total through Portland's first nine playoff games.

Of course, Barton's production isn't reliable, with the 23-year-old having averaged just four points in 9.4 minutes this season. But Portland only needs him to be serviceable, such that they aren't pasted when the starters rest, something he's now shown he can handle.

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