The AP reports: Brandon Roy had 16 points and 11 assists for the Blazers (41-40) who play their final game of the season Wednesday at Phoenix. Portland has not finished with a winning record since the 2002-03 season. James Jones hit six 3-pointers to lead Portland with 20 points. Jarrett Jack scored 18 points and Channing Frye added 16 for Portland… Hakim Warrick led Memphis with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Rudy Gay and Andre Brown each added 16 points… The Grizzlies were without veteran guard Mike Miller because of back spasms, and guard Javaris Crittenton, who has a sprained right thumb.
Category: Portland Trail Blazers Blog
Trail Blazers blog – Portland Trail Blazers basketball blog
Blazers get rid of Darius Miles
Pursuant to NBA procedures with regard to career-ending injuries, the Portland Trail Blazers have requested waivers on forward Darius Miles, General Manager Kevin Pritchard announced today.
An independent medical examiner jointly appointed by the NBA and the NBA Players Association examined Miles and determined that the damage to Miles’ right knee is severe enough to qualify as a career-ending injury.
Miles showed flashes of big talent but never played consistently well and always seemed disinterested in getting better at basketball.
More info is here.
Apr. 12: Blazers 108, Mavs 105
The AP reports: A 108-105 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday left the Blazers at 40-40 with two games left—one at home against Memphis and the season finale at Phoenix. Brandon Roy scored 23 points for Portland, which hasn’t had a winning record since the 2002-2003 season… LaMarcus Aldridge had 22 points, and Jarrett Jack had 19 points and 10 assists. Channing Frye had 15 points and 10 rebounds… Dirk Nowitzki scored 28 points for the Mavericks, who had won their last three and were among the teams jostling for playoff position in the Western Conference.
Apr. 11: Kings 103, Blazers 86
The AP reports: Kings coach Reggie Theus let John Salmons know how unimpressed he was with his performance in the first half. After the break, the sub-turned-starter took over the game. Salmons scored all of his 18 points in the second half, leading the Sacramento Kings to a 103-86 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night… Francisco Garcia scored 16 points, Spencer Hawes had 15 points and seven rebounds, and Beno Udrih had 11 points for the Kings, who are now 25-14 at home this season… LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points and 13 rebounds for Portland, who only led in the game’s opening minutes. Travis Outlaw scored 18 points, Channing Frye had 15 points and 14 rebounds, and Brandon Roy had 12 points.
Apr. 8: Blazers 112, Lakers 103
The AP reports: Brandon Roy scored 23 points and matched his career high with 12 assists for Portland, which snapped a five-game losing streak. LaMarcus Aldridge added 22 points and 11 rebounds. Channing Frye, starting in place of injured center Joel Przybilla, had a season-high 22 points and 11 rebounds… Kobe Bryant finished with 34 points, while Pau Gasol had 21 points and 13 rebounds. It was the Lakers’ sixth straight loss at the Rose Garden.
Blazers recall Josh McRoberts from D-League
The Portland Trail Blazers recalled rookie forward Josh McRoberts from the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League, it was announced Monday by Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard.
McRoberts, who was assigned to the Stampede for the second time this season on March 17, averaged 7.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.43 blocked shots and 27.0 minutes in seven games, while shooting 43.1% (22-for-51) from the floor during his second stint there.
In 15 total games with Idaho this season, McRoberts posted averages of 7.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 26.8 minutes.
The Duke product is averaging 2.0 points, 0.8 rebounds and 4.4 minutes in five games with the Trail Blazers after being selected by Portland with the 37th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
Joel Przybilla out for season with broken right hand
Trail Blazers center Joel Przybilla will miss the remaining five games of the season with a broken right hand (second metacarpal), sustained in the second quarter of Portland’s game vs. San Antonio April 6.
“This is all the more unfortunate because Joel had his mind set to play all 82 games this season, and he almost made it happen,” said Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard. “When you look at what he’s accomplished, Joel put his heart and soul into this season, and he gave us his all every night.”
The injury occurred at the 4:43 mark of the second quarter, when Przybilla’s right hand hit the rim while defending a lay-up by the Spurs’ Ime Udoka.
Przybilla, 28, will finish the season with averages of 4.8 points, a career-high 8.4 rebounds, 1.21 blocked shots, 23.6 minutes and a 57.8% field goal percentage in 77 games (67 starts). His rebounding average, blocked shot average and field goal percentage lead the Trail Blazers this season.
The fourth-year Trail Blazer pulled down a career-high 26 rebounds March 22 at the Clippers, tying the franchise record for a regulation game and coming just one shy of the overall record 27.
With 93 blocked shots on the season, Przybilla increased his Portland total to 453, placing him seventh on the team’s all-time ledger.
Apr. 6: Spurs 72, Blazers 65
The AP reports: Tim Duncan had 27 points and 11 rebounds and San Antonio beat Portland 72-65 on Sunday, extending the Spurs’ winning streak over the Trail Blazers to 12 straight games… Manu Ginobili’s dunk with 1:31 left all but sealed it for the Spurs, who handed the Blazers their fifth consecutive loss. Ginobili finished with 10 points and six assists… All-Star guard Brandon Roy, who returned after a four-game absence because of a groin injury, led the Blazers (38-38) with 18 points. Travis Outlaw added 14 and LaMarcus Aldridge had 12 points and 11 rebounds… The Blazers were without starter Martell Webster, who suited up for Thursday night’s game but experienced dizziness and flu-like symptoms and was taken to a hospital.
Martell Webster has irregular heartbeat
Prior to Thursday night’s game with the Houston Rockets, Martell Webster experienced flu-like symptoms and dizziness. Webster was taken to a local hospital where he stayed overnight for observation. Further testing today revealed an irregular heartbeat.
Webster has been discharged from the hospital and is scheduled to see the team’s cardiologist early next week. He will miss Sunday’s game with the San Antonio Spurs.
Apr. 3: Rockets 95, Blazers 86
The Rockets opened up a lead in the second quarter and held on for the win. For Houston, Tracy McGrady (14-of-29) had 35 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Aaron Brooks, Luther Head, Bobby Jackson and Dikembe Mutombo all scored in the low double-digits, and rebounding was spread across the board. It was a true team effort outside of T-Mac’s big point total. Houston was red-hot from outside, nailing 11-of-22 three-pointers. For the Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge (10-of-20) had 23 points but just 4 rebounds. Jarrett Jack (8-of-15) had 19. Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw (just 5-of-18) and Channing Frye also reached double-digit points. Brandon Roy remains out of action.