The news

The Portland Trail Blazers started Damian Lillard and Scoot Henderson over Ja Morant during their preseason game against Sacramento, per @ESPNNBA. Tuning rotation pieces on the road, Portland cruised past Sacramento for a 110-98 final victory after holding a 33-22 lead earlier while the preseason meeting remained in progress. The opening alignment immediately defines the early rotation hierarchy for the Trail Blazers entering the 2026-27 NBA season.

While the preseason meeting with Sacramento was in progress, Deni Avdija held the game high with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist. During that stretch of play, Tristen Newton recorded 8 points and 2 rebounds, while Keegan Murray posted 6 points and 2 rebounds. By the time the 110-98 final score was sealed on the road, Kings forward Jonathan Mogbo had posted 15 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists, and Precious Achiuwa finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists.

The decision to place Lillard and Henderson in the starting lineup ahead of Morant places immediate attention on how the Trail Blazers manage their guard depth. How bench minutes divide after the opening unit leaves the floor will directly shape closing-lineup choices as the team prepares for the regular season.

Prior context

Portland enters the 2026-27 campaign with veteran guards Damian Lillard and Ja Morant sharing the backcourt alongside 6-foot-8 forward Deni Avdija. Last season, Avdija operated as Portland's primary offensive initiator and completed a breakout year as team MVP. Working in that primary creation role as a 6-foot-8 forward, Avdija increased his scoring average from 16.9 to 24.2 points per game last season.

Now, Lillard is back in a Trail Blazers uniform and set to return to the Portland lineup as a scorer, sharpshooter and playmaker, per @NBA and @trailblazers. Adding both Lillard and Morant to a roster where Avdija already established himself as the primary offensive initiator creates a crowded creation picture. Continued creation from the Morant, Lillard and Avdija trio builds directly on Avdija's breakout season as team MVP while testing how multiple ball-handlers share the floor.

Before the preseason action against Sacramento tipped off, external evaluation of the roster focused on how those pieces would fit together alongside Henderson. Because Avdija handled primary initiation responsibilities during his climb from a 16.9 scoring average to 24.2 last season, integrating veteran guards into the rotation requires clear structural choices from the coaching staff.

What it means

Starting Lillard and Henderson over Morant against Sacramento establishes the initial baseline for Portland's backcourt hierarchy entering the 2026-27 season. Rather than pairing Lillard and Morant together in the opening five right away, the Trail Blazers elected to open with Henderson beside Lillard and bring Morant off the bench. That alignment defines the early rotation order and signals that lineup balance is being actively tested during preseason play.

How on-ball duties divide among the guards and forwards will define both the rotation and the overall shot distribution into the upcoming season. Preseason play is the primary proving ground to show how the Lillard and Morant pairing functions alongside Avdija's offensive initiation. When Lillard and Henderson start, Portland can evaluate how its opening unit spaces the floor and initiates possessions before Morant enters the game to lead or share second-unit creation.

Furthermore, the distribution of reserve minutes behind the starting combination carries significant weight for the fourth quarter. How bench minutes divide after the opening unit finishes its initial stint will shape Portland's closing-lineup choices when games tighten. Tuning those rotation pieces in a 110-98 road result against Sacramento gives the Trail Blazers live reps to measure which combinations work best around Avdija's 6-foot-8 frame and playmaking presence.

What reporters are saying

Coverage surrounding the preseason lineup decision has highlighted both the depth of the guard room and the questions facing the veterans, per @ESPNNBA. In assessing the roster construction, reports noted that “the backcourt might be overstocked, assuming veterans Damian Lillard and Ja Morant can perform close to their former selves,” per @ESPNNBA. That evaluation directly questions whether the veteran guards can perform near their former selves while sharing responsibilities with Henderson and Avdija.

At the same time, league and team coverage underscored Lillard's return to familiar territory, describing him as a “Scorer. Sharpshooter. Playmaker. Damian Lillard, TRAIL BLAZER,” per @NBA. Dame is set to return to the Portland lineup as the Trail Blazers prepare for the regular season, per @NBA. Meanwhile, the team emphasized the approaching schedule by noting that Portland is a week away from its home opener against PHX, per @trailblazers.

What to watch next

In the immediate term, Portland's next preseason rotation and Morant's minutes off the bench remain the near-term focus. Observers will watch closely to see whether the Trail Blazers keep Lillard and Henderson together in the starting unit or adjust the alignment as they continue tuning rotation pieces. Every preseason stint offers another look at how on-ball creation and shot distribution settle between Lillard, Morant, Henderson and Avdija.

Beyond the exhibition slate, the Trail Blazers are a week away from beginning their regular-season schedule at home, per @trailblazers. Portland officially opens its 2026-27 season at home against Phoenix on Wednesday, Oct. 21, when the teams are scheduled to meet in Portland. Lillard is set to be in the Trail Blazers lineup for that opener, and the home date gives Portland its first regular rotation with Lillard back in a Trail Blazers uniform.

Phoenix provides the opening-night opposition for that roster reset on Wednesday, Oct. 21. While Lillard is slated for the lineup, full opening-night status for the rotation will be finalized at tip. Until then, how bench minutes divide and how the veteran guards perform near their former selves alongside Avdija's offensive initiation will remain the central storylines defining Portland's 2026-27 outlook.

Companion to our earlier report: Blazers start Lillard, Henderson over Morant in preseason.