Skip to content

Blazers' Arron Afflalo returning for Game 3 on Saturday

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

With their series against the Memphis Grizzlies hanging in the balance as they return to Oregon, the Portland Trail Blazers will add a key piece to their starting lineup for Game 3.

Arron Afflalo will return and start on Saturday, the first time he'll have played since April 9 thanks to a right shoulder strain. He had been considered probable earlier in the week, and his return could be huge for the wing-starved Blazers.

Already without Wesley Matthews and Dorell Wright, Afflalo's absence has left Portland to rely heavily on youngsters Allen Crabbe and C.J. McCollum, who have combined for 18 points in 105 minutes in the series so far. Afflalo is the team's best option on the wing alongside Nicolas Batum, providing an element of consistent defense and outside shooting that the team's been lacking so far.

Prior to the injury, Afflalo had averaged 10.6 points in 25 games since being acquired at the trade deadline. Over the past four seasons, he's averaged 15.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists while hitting 38.1 percent of his 3-point attempts.

Chris Kaman is also going to play through an ankle injury that sidelined him for Game 2, after being listed as a game-time decision.

The Blazers trail 2-0 in the series and have looked over-matched for long stretches against a physical, methodical Grizzlies opponent.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox