This matchup pits a .500 Portland Trail Blazers squad against a struggling Washington Wizards team in a Western vs. Eastern Conference clash. Portland enters with a balanced but injury-impacted roster, while Washington continues to battle through a tough season marked by heavy absences and inconsistency.
Event Details
Venue: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET (4:00 PM PT)
Broadcast: Likely NBA TV, local networks (KUNP for Portland, Monumental Sports Network for Washington), or streaming via NBA League Pass
Injury Report
Portland Trail Blazers:
Deni Avdija: Out (Lower Back Strain)
Scoot Henderson: Out (Left Hamstring Tear)
Damian Lillard: Out (Left Achilles – Injury Management)
Kris Murray: Out (Lumbar Strain)
Duop Reath: Out (Right Foot Soreness)
Matisse Thybulle: Out (Right Knee Tendinopathy)
Blake Wesley: Out (Right Foot Fracture)
Robert Williams III: Available (Left Knee – Injury Management)
Portland is significantly shorthanded, missing key guards and depth players, which could impact perimeter defense and scoring.
Washington Wizards:
Marvin Bagley III: Out (Thoracic Strain)
Bilal Coulibaly: Questionable (Lower Back Strain)
Khris Middleton: Questionable (Left Foot Soreness)
Tristan Vukcevic: Out (Left Hamstring Strain)
Cam Whitmore: Out (Right Shoulder – Deep Vein Thrombosis)
Trae Young: Out (Right Knee MCL Strain / Quad Contusion)
Washington is dealing with multiple absences, particularly in the frontcourt and backcourt, limiting their offensive and defensive options.
Key Player Matchups
Guard Play: Portland’s Anfernee Simons (primary scoring option) vs. Washington’s Jordan Poole or whoever steps in at point with Trae Young out. Simons’ shot-creation will be crucial against a Wizards backcourt lacking depth.
Wing/Forward Battle: If available, Washington’s Kyle Kuzma (scoring and rebounding) vs. Portland’s Jerami Grant or forwards like Toumani Camara. Kuzma’s size and scoring could exploit Portland’s injuries.
Frontcourt: Portland’s Deandre Ayton (rebounding and interior presence) vs. Washington’s Alex Sarr or backups. Ayton has an edge in experience, but Washington’s length could challenge if Coulibaly/Middleton play.
Key X-Factor: Robert Williams III’s availability for Portland provides rim protection; Washington’s depleted frontcourt struggles with rebounding and defense. Overall, Portland’s healthier (or less impacted) core scorers give them an advantage in a depleted matchup.
Recent Team Form
Portland Trail Blazers: Mixed results recently, sitting at .500. Their last game was a 98-110 loss to the Toronto Raptors (January 23, 2026). Portland has shown offensive capability (averaging ~116 PPG league-wide context) but defensive lapses, especially with injuries piling up. They are coming off a tough stretch but remain competitive in close games.
Washington Wizards: Struggling heavily with a 10-34 record. Recent outings include a 115-119 loss at Charlotte Hornets and other defeats. Washington has been inconsistent offensively and poor defensively, often losing by double digits. Momentum is low, with a long losing trend.
Series History
All-time, the Trail Blazers lead the series 67-58 over 125 regular-season games. Portland has had the edge historically, though recent matchups have varied. In recent seasons, games have been competitive, but Portland’s depth typically prevails against Washington’s rebuild phase.
Betting Trends
Trends show Portland covering in similar matchups against sub-.300 teams, while Washington has struggled to cover as home underdogs (poor ATS home record). Total has trended under in Washington’s recent games due to low-scoring outputs, but Portland’s offense could push it over if they exploit mismatches.
Game Odds
Portland Trail Blazers – 6.5
Washington Wizards 232.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, January 26, 2026
