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Bobcats-Trail Blazers Preview

Jan 31, 2010 - 7:12 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Charlotte (24-22) at Portland (28-21), 10:00 p.m. EDT

The Portland Trail Blazers are anxious to get Brandon Roy back, but if Andre Miller keeps scoring like he did in their latest game, they can afford to wait a little bit longer.

Miller's career-high 52 points helped the Trail Blazers snap a three-game skid, and they may need another big game from their point guard Monday night as it's unlikely Roy will return when Portland hosts the surging Charlotte Bobcats.

The Trail Blazers (28-21) have been as banged up as any team in the league, with Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla out for the season and Travis Outlaw still a month or so away from returning from left foot surgery.

Roy's sprained right hamstring, though, is the greatest concern. Portland's leading scorer (23.1 points per game) has missed eight of the team's last nine games and is due to be re-evaluated Monday.

The Blazers had lost five of their last six without him heading into Dallas on Saturday, but Miller delivered a rare offensive showcase. He'd averaged 5.0 points and made 4 of 25 shots during Portland's three-game slide, but scored 52 Saturday - including 25 in the fourth quarter and overtime - to lift the Blazers to a 114-112 win.

Miller, who'd never scored more than 37, came within two points of tying the team record, set by Damon Stoudamire on Jan. 14, 2005.

"I've had a few heated nights in my career, but I think this was one of those nights where I just didn't stop shooting," Miller said. "The other nights when I was hot, I stopped myself from shooting the ball. ...Tonight was the night where I just kept doing it. I just didn't settle."

Miller had 15 and Roy led the way with 25 when Portland won 80-74 at Charlotte on Nov. 14, but that was the last game the Bobcats (24-22) played before trading for Stephen Jackson.

Charlotte is 21-16 since Jackson's arrival, and while 15 of those wins have come at home, it's starting to learn how to win on the road. The Bobcats dropped three straight from Jan. 22-25, including the opener of their six-game trip, but they haven't lost since.

Jackson had 30 in victories at Phoenix and Golden State, but shot 5 of 19 Saturday at Sacramento. Gerald Wallace, however, picked up the slack, pouring in a season-high 38 points in a 103-96 win over his former team.

"(Wallace) has been phenomenal," coach Larry Brown told the NBA's official Web site. "... He has played great all year but the last month he has just taken it to a new level."

Wallace has averaged 27.3 points and 10.0 rebounds thus far on the road trip.

The versatile Boris Diaw may get a shot at defending Miller should Roy remain out Monday. Diaw also showed his scoring touch when Portland visited in November, scoring a team-high 21 points.

The Blazers' best chance to win a third straight game over Charlotte may come down to LaMarcus Aldridge, who's averaged 25.3 points in three career home games against the Bobcats.

Aldridge has averaged 20.9 points in his past eight games after scoring 13.3 over his previous eight.