--Brandon Roy, Portland's leading scorer and lone NBA All-Star Game representative, sat out the game with a sprained right ankle that has bothered him since before the All-Star Game. The Blazer guard will also miss Wednesday's date with the Clippers.
"I'm hoping I'll be back Friday (for the Lakers at the Rose Garden)," Roy said. "But we'll have to see." --Greg Oden has started to run as his rehabilitation from September microfracture knee surgery progresses.
"I'm doing a lot of water workouts, leg press, squats," said the 7-foot Oden, the No. 1 pick in the June draft. "I can only run once a week, but that's been good. It's helping me get my wind back."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Somebody lost his composure there, and it wasn't Nate McMillan." -- Blazer TV play-by-play voice Mike Barrett, after referee Steve Javie called successive technical fouls on Nate McMillan, requiring an automatic fourth-quarter rejection for the Portland coach.
