After surgery, Lillard to be out indefinitely

Portland guard Damian Lillard underwent surgery Thursday to repair a core injury that has been causing him abdominal pain this season.

He will be evaluated in six weeks but there is no timetable for his return, the Trail Blazers said.

Lillard, a six-time All-Star, has missed five games since the start of the year, and 11 games overall this season, because of lower abdominal tendinopathy. He has said the injury flared up during the Tokyo Olympics.

“It wasn’t easy at all because I just love being out there. Like, I love being out there playing,” Lillard said in a story posted to the Blazers’ website. “I’ve always been available to play but I think the older you get, the more experience that you have, not just in sports but in life, it becomes more important to play chess.

“My pride might say, ‘Keep fighting it out, get the job done again. Try to get in the playoffs.’ And then the older me is saying ‘You can’t do none of that stuff if you’re not at your best.’ ”

Lillard is averaging 24 points and 7.3 assists this season. Anfernee Simons has started in his absence.

Thursday’s games

Pelicans 113, Clippers 89: Brandon Ingram had 24 points, six assists and five rebounds and Jonas Valanciunas contributed 18 points and 16 rebounds to lead host New Orleans past Los Angeles. Devonte’ Graham had 13 points, seven assists and six rebounds.

For the Clippers — who have six players either injured or in the NBA’s health and safety protocols — Terance Mann had 15 points and Marcus Morris had 12.

Los Angeles overcame a 25-point deficit at home against Denver on Tuesday, but could not come close to pulling off a similar comeback in New Orleans.

Grizzlies 116, Timberwolves 108: Desmond Bane had 21 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 20 points, five rebounds and five blocked shots as Memphis defeated visiting Minnesota.

Trade: The Hawks traded forwards Cam Reddish and Solomon Hill and a 2025 second-round draft pick to the Knicks for a 2022 first-round draft pick and forward Kevin Knox.

The trade comes as the Hawks (17-23) have lost three consecutive games, and seven of their past nine. Wednesday night’s 115-91 loss to Miami was the Hawks’ ninth consecutive home loss.

Atlanta has fallen to 12th in the Eastern Conference standings one year after advancing to the conference finals.

Briefly: Bulls forward Derrick Jones Jr. is expected to be sidelined for at least four weeks because of a bone bruise in his right knee, the Athletic reported . . ... The Jazz waived former St. Mary’s forward Malik Fitts.