Rockets 87 - 89 Trail Blazers
Final
  for this game

Roy expected to return to help surging Blazers

Dec 20, 2006 - 5:47 PM Houston (15-9) at Portland (11-14) 10:00 pm EST

PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) - Rookie guard Brandon Roy is expected to be in the lineup for the first time in nearly six weeks when the surging Portland Trail Blazers host the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

Roy has missed the last 19 games due to a heel injury that forced him to wear a walking boot as part of his rehabilitation.

After cracking the starting lineup, Roy averaged 18.3 points in the first three games before suffering the injury at the Los Angeles Clippers on November 6. He sat out one game and played just seven minutes vs. New Orleans on December 10 before going on the inactive list.

The Trail Blazers have won four in a row and are looking for their first five-game run since February 18-24, 2004. However, they have lost nine of the last 10 meetings with the Rockets, including four of five at the Rose Garden.

The Blazers have not played since Friday, when they notched a 109-99 victory over the Clippers. Zach Randolph scored 26 points and Travis Outlaw added 15 for Portland, which made 9-of-15 3-pointers.

This is the fourth stop on Houston's five-game road trip. The Rockets got their first win Sunday with a 108-103 victory over the Clippers in which Yao Ming collected 32 points and 10 rebounds and Rafer Alston added a season-high 26 and eight assists.

Yao is averaging 35 points and 14.3 rebounds on the trip.






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