Trail Blazers at Nets
LaMarcus Aldridge is back and Portland is ready to renew its push toward the top of the Western Conference. The Trail Blazers had lost five of six games - including two straight with Aldridge on the sidelines nursing a thumb injury - before their big man returned to score 26 points in a 103-96 win over Washington on Saturday. Aldridge was originally set to undergo surgery to repair a torn ligament in the thumb but his surprising and solid return has dramatically altered the outlook for Portland.
"You can't say enough. That was big time," Blazers head coach Terry Stotts said after Aldridge also grabbed nine rebounds and recorded a pair of steals in 36 issue-free minutes. The Nets won the opener of a three-game road trip before dropping the final two games by a combined 74 points. Jarrett Jack scored 16 points and Mason Plumlee added 11 but no other Brooklyn player cracked double digits in a 108-73 setback at Utah on Saturday, the Nets lowest scoring output of the season.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, CSN Northwest (Portland), YES (Brooklyn)
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (32-13): As Aldridge and Nicolas Batum - who has missed two straight games with a wrist issue - deal with their respective ailments, other forwards have been given the opportunity to step in. Allen Crabbe got the start against Washington but played just seven scoreless minutes while Dorell Wright shined off the bench with 10 points, six rebounds and three assists in 21 minutes. Wright has two of his three double-digit scoring efforts over the past week and Thomas Robinson has averaged 7.7 boards while shooting 66.7 percent during that same stretch.
ABOUT THE NETS (18-26): Brooklyn has had its fair share of physical issues as well, but it does hope to get point guard Deron Williams back soon. The veteran has been working out on the court as he attempts to work his way back from a rib injury that has kept him out of action since Jan. 7. Williams had 19 points and six assists in a 97-87 loss at Portland earlier this season, the Blazers' third straight win in the series.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Nets have lost six in a row at home.
2. Portland is sixth in the NBA in 3-point shooting (37.1) while Brooklyn ranks 28th (31.7).
3. Blazers G Damian Lillard scored 28 points in the win over Brooklyn on Nov. 15, when Aldridge and Batum were both sidelined.