Ja Morant Starts With Damian Lillard

Ja Morant will start next to Damian Lillard in Portland’s backcourt to open the 2026-27 season, Chris Haynes reports. Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson are expected to come off the bench, with Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan filling out the starting five. Portland got Morant from Memphis for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray on June 29. Morant started 325 of 327 games in Memphis, but said Sept. 28 that winning matters more than his role. He’s looked sharp in preseason, averaging 11.5 points, 4.8 assists and 1.8 steals in 20.8 minutes while shooting 56.7 percent. Portland opens against Phoenix on Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET.