--G Brandon Roy recently missed action with a sore hamstring, and he said he is "definitely not 100 percent, but it's good enough that I can help the team. If I can help the team, I'll go out and play. We have a lot of injuries, and I take pride in being the leader of this team, and they need to see me out there playing through it."

--F Travis Outlaw is often the Blazers' go-to shooter down the stretch, with G Brandon Roy the go-to ballhandler, playmaker and driver. Outlaw came through again at New Jersey, scoring all of his 13 points in the second half, including nine in the fourth quarter. And Outlaw's defensive rebound with 56 seconds left helped seal the win. "Travis came alive again," coach Nate McMillan said.

--G Jerryd Bayless was able to have a big game in part because of the Nets' double-teams on Brandon Roy. But Roy gives Bayless credit.

"Once he gets comfortable, we are going to be dangerous," Roy said. "He is tough going to the basket, and he opens up the floor. As he gets more confidence, we're going to be really tough."

--C Greg Oden's up-and-down rookie campaign continues. At New Jersey, he had just two points in 13 minutes, sitting the bench in part because he was having trouble defending the pick-and-roll.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--G Steve Blake returned to Portland before the New Jersey game to have his right shoulder further examined. He is expected to miss seven to 10 days with the separated shoulder. Blake is averaging 11.6 points and 4.7 assists per game.

--G Rudy Fernandez, another rookie, remains hobbled with a sprained left foot, but he toughed it out on Thursday. He was playing instead of resting, largely because the injury to Blake left the Blazers thin on firepower and size in the backcourt. Fernandez had missed Wednesday's Philadelphia game.