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Trail Blazers-76ers Preview

Jan 19, 2010 - 9:07 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Portland (25-17) at Philadelphia (13-27), 7:00 p.m. EDT

Brandon Roy's absence didn't help as the Portland Trail Blazers got off to a rough start on their four-game road trip.

The Blazers' leading scorer, though, could return for Portland's next game, a matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.

Roy, averaging a career-best 23.4 points, missed his second straight game Monday with a sore hamstring despite indicating he would play before a 97-92 loss to Washington.

The guard was unable to convince coach Nate McMillan and trainer Jay Jensen he was ready to return.

"Jay and I didn't like what we were hearing, so we held him," McMillan said. "I don't have any regrets about that."

Portland (25-17) could have used some clutch play from Roy late in the fourth quarter as it scored four points in the final four minutes.

Andre Miller and LaMarcus Aldridge scored 22 points apiece to lead the Blazers, who failed to win their third straight. Aldridge added a season-high 15 rebounds as the Blazers went with nine players in their rotation for the second straight game.

Miller has stepped up his scoring in the last eight games, averaging 19.0 points - 6.4 above his average. Aldridge has also produced above his season numbers of 16.0 points and 8.3 rebounds of late, averaging 18.8 and 12.3 in his last four contests.

As he was nearly able to play Monday, Roy could rejoin the Blazers as they try to snap a three-game slide against the 76ers (13-27).

Roy scored 24 points and Aldridge 17 against Philadelphia on Dec. 28, but Portland shot 42.2 percent from the field to the 76ers' 57.7 and lost 104-93. Elton Brand led Philadelphia with 25 points and nine rebounds.

Portland dropped its last two games at Philadelphia, but the Blazers will be facing a 76ers team that suffered one of its most deflating losses of the season Monday. Philadelphia blew a 20-point lead and fell 108-103 in overtime at Minnesota.

Seven Sixers scored in double figures, led by Andre Iguodala with 17, but Philadelphia managed four points in the extra period.

The defeat didn't help coach Eddie Jordan's chances of keeping his job. The Sixers are 3-3 since team president Ed Stefanski refused to guarantee Jordan would last the season Jan. 8.

"It's a old cliche that players win ball games," Brand said. "He's doing the best he feels he can do. We don't just want to win for him, we do want to win for him, we want to win for us, too, and the city. We were right there, and we thought we turned the corner. It's just a disappointing loss."

Jordan's team won two of three on its most recent homestand last week after dropping nine of 10 at the Wachovia Center. The 76ers allowed an average of 90.3 points in the three games after giving up 106.6 points in their previous five at home.

The Blazers are one of the NBA's lowest-scoring teams on the road, averaging 93.6 points while going 9-10.

Portland will be trying to avoid its 10th loss in 14 games away from home and third in a row.