NBA March 22, 2026 Injury News: Damian Lillard Out For Portland Trail Blazers; No Anthony Edwards For Minnesota Timberwolves

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The NBA regular season enters a critical stretch this Sunday as teams scramble for playoff seeding and Play-In positioning. With only a few weeks remaining in the 2025-26 campaign, tonight’s five-game slate features heavy hitters like the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets. However, the headlines are dominated by a massive wave of injuries, with superstars Damian Lillard, Anthony Edwards, and Domantas Sabonis all officially ruled out. Fans in India can catch the action starting early Monday morning, with a marquee matchup between the Timberwolves and Celtics streaming live on YouTube.

NBA March 22, 2026 Match Table And IST Timings

Portland Trail Blazers At Denver Nuggets: Lillard Sidelined For Trip To Ball Arena

The Portland Trail Blazers face a daunting task as they travel to Colorado to take on the Denver Nuggets without their talisman, Damian Lillard. The veteran guard is officially OUT due to Injury Management related to his left Achilles tendon. Portland’s backcourt depth is further tested with Shaedon Sharpe sidelined by a fibula stress reaction. The Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic, will look to exploit a depleted Blazers rotation that also lists Jerami Grant as Questionable with foot soreness. Denver remains relatively healthy, with only Peyton Watson appearing on the report as a game-time decision.

Minnesota Timberwolves At Boston Celtics: Anthony Edwards Out For YouTube Showcase

In what was expected to be the game of the night, the Minnesota Timberwolves must navigate their trip to Boston without leading scorer Anthony Edwards. The explosive guard is dealing with Right Knee Inflammation and is in the middle of a planned two-week recovery period. This leaves Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert to lead the charge against the Celtics at TD Garden. Boston has its own frontcourt concerns as Nikola Vucevic remains out with a finger fracture, though Jaylen Brown is expected to play despite a minor quad contusion. This cross-conference battle will be available for free global streaming via YouTube.

Brooklyn Nets At Sacramento Kings: Short-Handed Battle At Golden 1 Center

The clash at the Golden 1 Centre features two teams struggling with significant roster attrition. The Sacramento Kings are in a full-scale injury crisis, with Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and De’Andre Hunter all ruled out for the remainder of the season following surgeries. The Brooklyn Nets are similarly handicapped, missing Michael Porter Jr. due to a hamstring strain and Nic Claxton, who is being rested for this contest. With both teams missing their primary interior presence, expect a high-volume shooting affair led by Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox and Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas.

Washington Wizards At New York Knicks: Madison Square Garden Hosts Depleted Wizards

The Washington Wizards arrive at Madison Square Garden as heavy underdogs, carrying an injury list that looks more like an All-Star roster. Anthony Davis, Trae Young, and D’Angelo Russell are all unavailable for the visitors, leaving the Wizards with very few offensive options against a physical Knicks defence. New York, currently eyeing the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, will rely on Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson to secure a comfortable home win. The only concern for the hosts is the status of Josh Hart, who remains Questionable with knee soreness.

Toronto Raptors At Phoenix Suns: Series Sweep On Line In Arizona

The final game of the night sees the Toronto Raptors visiting the Phoenix Suns at the PHX Arena. The Raptors have found success lately behind Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, but they face a Suns team desperate to snap a five-game losing streak. Phoenix is currently dealing with a thin rotation as Mark Williams and Dillon Brooks remain sidelined with fractures. The Suns will need a vintage performance from their star duo to overcome a balanced Toronto attack that is largely healthy, barring a minor thumb injury to rookie Collin Murray-Boyles.