Trail Blazers at Thunder
The Portland Trail Blazers are coming to the end of a tough road trip and are hoping LaMarcus Aldridge is back to help them finish it up strong. Aldridge sat out a loss at Houston due to illness Monday but could return when the Trail Blazers wrap up a four-game trip by visiting the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday. The Thunder have their own ailing All-Star in Kevin Durant, who has missed the last two games with a sprained right ankle.
Durant sat out practice again Monday and will be a game-time decision Tuesday. “Every day we're going to evaluate him,” Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks told ESPN. “We won't know he's ready to play until that day. But every day he's getting a little better.” Aldridge’s absence and a lackluster effort on the defensive end combined to bring an end to Portland’s five-game winning streak in a 110-95 loss to the Rockets.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSN Northwest (Portland), FSN Oklahoma
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (22-7): Portland already is without starting center Robin Lopez due to a broken right hand and Meyers Leonard got a rare start next to Joel Freeland on Monday in the makeshift frontcourt. Leonard stretched the defense with three 3-pointers en route to a season-high 13 points but is still looking to improve in certain areas. “I thought I could have rebounded much better,” Leonard told reporters. “I thought defensively I was in the right place most of the time, but once again I need to look at the film. Shooting-wise, I got it going early, but I wish I hadn’t missed four in a row. But it is what it is.”
ABOUT THE THUNDER (13-15): Oklahoma City took off when Durant and Russell Westbrook both returned from injuries but has taken a dip with losses in two of the last three games. Westbrook drew some criticism after a 101-99 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday because of his shot selection after going 10-of-27 from the floor, including 0-of-6 from 3-point range. “We worked on a few different things, just playing with a better pace and went over a few sets,” Westbrook told reporters of the adjustments made during Monday’s practice. “We just have to execute our offense and execute what we do as a team.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Blazers took the first meeting 106-89 at home Oct. 29.
2. Oklahoma City C Steven Adams is 24-of-35 in the past six games.
3. Portland C Chris Kaman is 12-of-17 from the field over the past two contests.