Trail Blazers Vs Hornets: Injuries, Hot Streaks and a 10 a.m. Tip-Off That Matters
The Portland Trail Blazers head into a rare early start to face the Charlotte Hornets in a matchup that will be watched closely given both teams' identical 29-31 records. The trail blazers vs hornets meeting matters now because Portland is managing a string of injuries while Charlotte arrives having won 13 of its last 16, tightening the Eastern Conference play-in picture.
Trail Blazers Vs Hornets: Portland's depleted rotation and recent form
Portland is in the midst of a five-game road trip and has steadied itself by winning six of nine, but personnel losses have shaped its recent play. Shaedon Sharpe has missed eight games and the team has announced he will be sidelined for at least 4–6 weeks before re-evaluation, removing a 21. 4 points-per-game option from the lineup. Deni Avdija, who leads the team at 24. 4 points per game, has logged only three full games in the latest stretch and played just 59 seconds before re-aggravating a back injury on February 22; he is listed as doubtful for the matchup.
Those absences have forced other players into larger roles. Jerami Grant led the team with 27 points in a recent win in Chicago, and Robert Williams III stepped in effectively when Donovan Clingan missed his fifth game of the season with an illness. The cumulative effect is a deeper, more collective attack: when primary scorers are out, bench and role players are producing meaningful minutes and points, keeping Portland competitive despite the turnover.
Charlotte Hornets: Rebounding margin and three-point barrage driving a 13-3 run
Charlotte's surge has been measurable. The Hornets have captured 56. 3% of available rebounds during their 13–3 run, a league-leading rebounding percentage, and they boast the NBA's second-best offensive rating in that span. Their perimeter shooting has been a large part of the surge: 18. 1 three-pointers made per game while converting 40. 8% from beyond the arc — both marks among the NBA leaders.
The Hornets briefly stumbled with back-to-back losses right after the All-Star break but rebounded with dominant wins over Washington, Chicago and Indiana, beating those opponents by an average margin near 25 points. That level of efficiency and dominance on the glass explains how they moved into contention in the Eastern Conference play-in conversation.
Matchups to watch: Brandon Miller vs. Scoot Henderson and game logistics
A named storyline will spotlight the 2023 draft classmates: Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson. Miller is averaging 20. 9 points and has connected on 37. 2% of his three-point attempts across 43 games this season. Henderson, returning from a hamstring absence that kept him out for 51 games, has played eight contests and is averaging 13. 6 points and five assists in 22. 9 minutes. Their renewed on-court encounter adds a layer of intrigue to a game already charged by standings and momentum.
The game is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 28 at 10: 00 a. m. Pacific, a scheduling detail that will affect viewing for fans in different time zones and represents one of those early tip-offs that can influence routines on both sides. Broadcast options listed include League Pass for out-of-market viewers and regional streams for local fans.
What makes this notable is how contrasting trajectories intersect: Portland's resilience under injury pressure meets Charlotte's hot shooting and rebounding dominance, making this contest a concise test of depth versus current form. With identical records, the outcome will have direct implications for both teams' immediate positioning as the regular season approaches its conclusion.
Injuries listed for Portland include Sharpe, Caleb Love and Damian Lillard out, Avdija doubtful and Donovan Clingan questionable; Charlotte's inactive list includes Tosan Evbuomwan, PJ Hall, Liam McNeely, Antonio Reeves and Tidjane Salaun. Those status reports, combined with recent performances, shape both strategy and expected rotations for the matchup.
