Lillard to miss All-Star Weekend with groin injury
Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard said he will not participate in Saturday's Three-Point Contest or Sunday's All-Star Game after suffering a groin injury in Wednesday's 111-104 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, according to The Athletic's Jason Quick.
Lillard exited with 3:22 left in the fourth quarter in what was then a 12-point deficit.
Coach Stotts says Damian Lillard suffered a right groin strain. He will have an MRI tomorrow.
— Jamie Hudson (@JamieHudsonNBCS) February 13, 2020
The 29-year-old added that Devin Booker would be a deserving replacement for All-Star Weekend. The Phoenix Suns guard was notably snubbed in January despite averaging 27.1 points and 6.4 assists per game leading up to the announcement of the All-Star reserves.
Lillard currently leads the Trail Blazers with 29.7 points and 7.9 assists per contest - both career highs. With Wednesday's loss dropping Portland to 25-31 (.446) - four games behind Memphis for the eighth and final playoff seed in the Western Conference - the Trail Blazers will hope for a speedy recovery for their franchise player.
The guard would have appeared in his fifth All-Star Game.
Lillard - whose rapper name is "Dame D.O.L.L.A." - still plans to make a musical performance on Saturday night at the United Center, according to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes.