Blazers Host Haifa In Second Of Three Home Preseason Contests

After starting preseason with a loss to the Denver Nuggets Tuesday night at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the Portland Trail Blazers' exhibition schedule continues with a friendly versus Israeli club team Maccabi Haifa Thursday night at the Moda Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

ALL TIME: Trail Blazers lead, 2-0IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 70-43AT MACCABI HAIFA: ---LAST PORTLAND WIN: 129-81, 10/13/17 (Portland)LAST MACCABI HAIFA WIN: ---CURRENT WIN STREAK: Two (Portland)

• Thursday’s game marks the third preseason meeting between the Trail Blazers and Maccabi Haifa in team history. Portland defeated Maccabi Haifa, 129-81, on Oct. 13, 2017 and bested them, 121-74, on October 17, 2014.

• LAST MEETING: Portland defeated Maccabi Haifa, 129-81 on Oct. 13, 2017. Zach Collins had 17 points and eight rebounds for the Trail Blazers while Haifa was paced by Angel Rodriguez, who finished with 16 points and three assists.

• Maccabi Haifa is playing three preseason contests against NBA teams this year. They fell to the Grizzlies, 123-88, on Oct. 6 and will face the Timberwolves in Minnesota on Oct. 13.

• James Young led Maccabi Haifa against Memphis on Oct. 6, finishing with 31 points (9-20 FG, 4-6 3-PT, 9-9 FT), six rebounds and one assist. Norris Cole added 13 points and two assists off the bench.

• Maccabi Haifa forward Brandon Rush was with the Trail Blazers on a 10-day contract during the 2017-18 season. He was originally selected by the Trail Blazers with the 13th overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft and subsequently traded to the Pacers in a draft-day trade.

• Maccabi Haifa forward Roman Sorkin played collegiately at University of Oregon from 2014-18.

While Terry Stotts noted at Wednesday's practice that some players would likely sit out Thursday's contest, only Pau Gasol (left foot) and Jusuf Nurkic (left leg) are listed as out.

There is no television broadcast of Thursday's game. Travis Demers and Michael Holton will have the call on Rip City Radio 620 AM and on all of the stations on the Trail Blazers Radio Network.