Damian Lillard told reporters Thursday that he hopes to miss only three-to-four games with his right groin strain.
Lillard suffered the injury in the final minutes of Portland's final game before the All-Star break, a 111-104 loss to the Grizzlies. As a result of the injury, he pulled out of the All-Star Game and the Three-Point Shootout.
Portland’s made six consecutive postseason appearances, having missed the playoffs only once in Terry Stotts’ seven years with the club. But it's currently in major danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2012-13.
Coming out of the league's brief hiatus, they are just four games behind Memphis for the final playoff spot in the West.