Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Career-best night on glass
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Clingan closed with 17 points (7-12 FG, 3-5 FT), 20 rebounds, two assists and three blocks across 31 minutes during Wednesday's 132-121 loss to the Nuggets.
With Deandre Ayton (calf) sidelined, Clingan got the start at center and erupted for a career-best rebounding total. The seventh overall pick in the 2024 Draft has been productive when he gets significant minutes. In 11 starts this season, he's averaged 7.7 points, 10.8 boards, 2.9 blocks and 1.3 assists in just 22.9 minutes a contest. Ayton isn't expected back until mid-March at the earliest, so Clingan has a long runway to pile up strong fantasy numbers.
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Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Three swats in limited run Saturday
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Clingan chipped in zero points (0-1 FG), five rebounds, three blocks and one steal over six minutes during Saturday's 114-98 loss to Minnesota.
Clingan made an immediate impact on the defensive end in his limited playing time, recording a game-high mark in swats. The rookie big man has seen a decline in minutes of late, averaging 1.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in only 10.4 minutes per game over his last five outings.
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Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Unlikely to play Tuesday
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Coach Chauncey Billups said Robert Williams is expected to take over Clingan's minutes during Tuesday's game versus the Pacers, Sean Highkin of Rip City Radio 620 Portland reports.
Clingan hasn't picked up an injury but is expected to cede his minutes to Williams, who was sidelined for Portland's previous four contests. Williams has played in only 17 of the Trail Blazers' 50 contests this season, so Clingan should operate as the team's backup center to Deandre Ayton when Williams is forced to sit out.
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Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Available and starting Friday
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Clingan (ankle) is available for Friday's game against the Hornets, Casey Holdahl of the Trail Blazers' official site reports.
With Deandre Ayton (knee) and Robert Williams (hand) both sidelined Friday, Clingan will also jump right into Portland's starting lineup down low following a five-game absence with an ankle injury. The rookie big man makes sense as a strong plug-and-play fantasy option against Charlotte, as Clingan has averaged 10.0 rebounds, 8.0 points, 2.9 blocks and 0.8 steals in 22.9 minutes across eight games as a starter this year.
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Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Out at least one week
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The Trail Blazers announced Wednesday that Clingan has been diagnosed with a mild left ankle sprain and will be re-evaluated in one week.
Clingan tweaked his ankle late in Tuesday's 132-114 loss to Brooklyn and will be out for at least the next four games -- and quite likely longer -- before the Trail Blazers provide another update on his status. While Clingan is sidelined, the Trail Blazers could look to Robert Williams (illness) to step in as the top backup to starting center Deandre Ayton.
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Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Tweaks ankle late Tuesday
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Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups said that Clingan tweaked his ankle late in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's 132-114 loss to the Nets, Sean Highkin of Rip City Radio 620 Portland reports.
Though starting center Deandre Ayton (calf) returned to action, he had a roughly even split of the playing time at center with Clingan, who logged 22 minutes to Ayton's 24. The blowout nature of the contest had a lot to do with it, but Clingan also outperformed Ayton, finishing with four points (1-1 FG, 2-2 FT), 14 boards, two assists, two steals and one block. Despite the strong showing off the bench, Clingan's ankle is now a concern heading into Thursday's game against the Clippers. Billups acknowledged that the Trail Blazers aren't yet certain on the severity of Clingan's injury, so the rookie could be headed for further testing.
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Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Returns to action
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Clingan (head) checked back into Tuesday's game versus the Nets with 10:56 remaining in the second quarter.
Clingan left Tuesday's contest in the first quarter but returned shortly after with a cut on his face, per Danny Marang of 1080 The Fan Portland. Regardless, the rookie big man should continue to operate as Portland's backup center to Deandre Ayton.
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Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Heads to locker room Tuesday
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Clingan went back to the locker room after sustaining an apparent head injury in the first quarter of Tuesday's game against the Nets, Danny Marang of 1080 The Fan Portland reports.
Clingan took a knee to the head and was helped off the court by the training staff with a towel over his face. The rookie big man will likely undergo further testing to rule out a concussion, and he should be considered questionable to return until the team provides an update on his status.
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Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Reverts to bench Tuesday
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Clingan will come off the bench in Tuesday's game against Brooklyn, Casey Holdahl of the Trail Blazers' official site reports.
The rookie got the spot start for Deandre Ayton in Saturday's loss to Miami, during which Clingan posted eight points (4-6 FG, 0-1 3Pt), 10 rebounds, two blocks, one assist and one steal across 27 minutes. The big man should still see significant playing time off the bench against the Nets with Robert Williams (illness) sidelined.
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Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Ruled out Wednesday
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Clingan (rest) has been ruled out for Wednesday's contest against New Orleans, Casey Holdahl of the Trail Blazers' official site reports.
Wednesday night marks the first of a back-to-back for the Blazers, and they elected to rest Clingan so he could play Thursday in Dallas. Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams will likely occupy the big-man minutes for the Blazers.
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Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Questionable for Wednesday
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Clingan (rest) is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Pelicans.
Wednesday is the front end of Portland's back-to-back set, so the team could opt to hold the rookie first-rounder out of action against New Orleans. The Blazers would figure to lean on Deandre Ayton from the first unit if Clingan gets the night off Wednesday, and Robert Williams would be in line to take on the backup center role in this case. Ayton has averaged 16.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 blocks in 31.9 minutes across six outings with Clingan out of action in 2024-25.
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Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Grabs seven boards in return
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Clingan (knee) tallied six points (3-6 FG, 0-1 3Pt), seven rebounds and two assists across 15 minutes Friday in the Trail Blazers' 118-116 loss to the Spurs.
Portland was without Deandre Ayton (illness) and Robert Williams (conditioning/concussion) on Friday, but Clingan's return from a seven-game absence due to a sprained left knee helped restore some depth in the frontcourt. Jabari Walker drew the start at center, but once Ayton returns, Clingan should remain ahead of Walker in the pecking order. Williams, meanwhile, represents a more viable threat than Walker to challenge for the backup role, though Portland showed a willingness to use Williams as a reserve power forward for a brief period in November when all of Clingan, Ayton and Williams were healthy at the same time.
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Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Available to play Friday
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Clingan (knee) is available for Friday's game against the Spurs, Casey Holdahl of the Trail Blazers' official site reports.
Clingan will operate in a minutes restriction, as the big man will be available for the first time since Nov. 23, when he went scoreless but grabbed 19 rebounds in a win over the Rockets. With Clingan on a minutes restriction, Robert Williams (not injury related) out and Deandre Ayton (illness) out, Jabari Walker will get the start at center for Portland.
Clingan (knee) fully participated in Thursday's practice and is listed as questionable for Friday's game versus the Spurs, Sean Highkin of Rip City Radio 620 Portland reports.
Clingan has missed Portland's last seven contests with a left knee injury but appears on track to return to action Friday. If Clingan is able to suit up, Deandre Ayton and Duop Reath will likely see a decrease in playing time.
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Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Dealing with left knee sprain
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Clingan has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Grizzlies due to a left knee sprain.
Clingan briefly left Saturday's game against the Rockets due to a left knee injury, but he was able to return and finished with zero points, 19 rebounds, one assist, three blocks and one steal over 26 minutes. The knee injury appears to be a lingering issue that will prevent Clingan from playing Monday, and his next chance to take the court will be against the Pacers on Wednesday. With Clingan out and Deandre Ayton (finger) doubtful to play Monday, Robert Williams could be inserted into the Blazers' starting lineup.
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Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Available to return Saturday
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Clingan (knee) is available to return to Saturday's game against the Rockets.
Clingan briefly exited Saturday's game due to a left knee injury. However, after being checked on by trainers in the locker room, he returned to the bench and will be available for the fourth quarter.
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Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Heads to locker room Saturday
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Clingan (undisclosed) went to the locker room in the third quarter of Sunday's game against the Rockets, Danny Marang of 1080 The Fan Portland reports.
Clingan went to the locker room with a trainer to be evaluated for an unspecified injury. While he's sidelined, Duop Reath should see an uptick in minutes off the Blazers' bench.
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Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Double-doubles with eight blocks
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Clingan chipped in 17 points (6-10 FG, 5-5 FT), 12 rebounds, one assist and eight blocks in 31 minutes during Wednesday's 106-98 victory over the Timberwolves.
With Deandre Ayton (finger) out again, Portland's 2024 first-round pick turned in a stellar performance. At 7-foot-2 and 282 pounds, Clingan is a challenge for any frontcourt, and he posted the huge number against Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle, arguably the best interior duo in the league.The UConn product dominated inside with eight blocked shots and was only two swats short of the rare point-rebound-block triple-double.
Clingan finished Tuesday's 122-108 victory over the Timberwolves with four points (2-5 FG, 0-1 3Pt), six rebounds, one block and one steal across 21 minutes.
It's unclear if Deandre Ayton (finger) will be available for the second half of this back-to-back set, and it's also uncertain if Robert Williams will play Wednesday, so Clingan could be in line to make back-to-back starts at center. The rookie didn't have his best showing during his first career start Tuesday, though that could've been expected since he had to battle with Rudy Gobert, one of the best rim protectors in the league. Clingan should continue to see steady minutes as long as the Blazers' frontcourt remains depleted.
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Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan: Making first NBA start
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Clingan is in the starting five for Tuesday's game versus the Timberwolves, Danny Marang of 1080 The Fan Portland reports.
Clingan will replace Deandre Ayton (finger) in the starting lineup Tuesday. The rookie big man has yet to log 20 or more minutes in a game this season but will likely receive an uptick in playing time against Minnesota.
