The Portland Trail Blazers are 13-20 so far this season but somehow that is good enough to only be a game and a half out of the eighth spot in the Western Conference this season. The Blazers have been without Damian Lillard for their last four games as he deals with plantar fasciitis yet they have won their last two. Ed Davis also missed the Blazers last game, a win over the Sacramento Kings, but he is hopeful he won't have to miss any more time, according to Casey Holdahl of NBA.com.
Davis suffered an ankle injury on Saturday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers and was ruled out almost immediately after leaving the game. The game was a blowout so the Blazers didn't need him back but at first it was considered an ankle sprain before being updated to a bone bruise on his left ankle. Davis missed Portland's game against the Kings on Sunday but the Blazers don't play again until Wednesday night so the hope is that he will be available for that game.
Davis is planning to take the next couple of days completely off to rest the ankle and will try to give it a go against the Denver Nuggets. After injuring the ankle Saturday Davis was hopeful he could play the next day but he was ruled out instead. Davis was likely just being optimistic and he might still be but it seems like there is a pretty good chance he could return after missing only one game.
Davis is in his first season with the Trail Blazers after signing a three year $20 million deal this offseason and he has been a solid contributor off the bench in the frontcourt. Prior to Sunday's game Davis had appeared in all 32 of Portland's games and is averaging 6.9 points and 7.5 rebounds in 21.8 minutes per game. Davis' 18.7 PER is second best on the team behind only Lillard and he has been a huge plus for them this season so the sooner he can get back the better.
Davis has not started a game all season as Terry Stotts has decided to start Noah Vonleh for much of the season while bringing Davis and Meyers Leonard off the bench but Davis is still getting his fair share of playing time. Davis leads the NBA in double-doubles off the bench with six this season so having him healthy will help the Blazers push towards a playoff spot.
