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Roy looks to continue impressive road trip as Blazers face Kings

Mar 13, 2008 - 1:31 PM Portland (34-31) at Sacramento (28-35) 10:00 pm EDT

SACRAMENTO, California (Ticker) - Brandon Roy is doing his best to keep the Portland Trail Blazers afloat in a difficult Western Conference.

Roy looks to continue his stellar when the Trail Blazers visit the Sacramento Kings in the finale of a five-game road trip Thursday.

The reigning Rookie of the Year, Roy is averaging 22.3 points, 6.2 assists and 5.0 rebounds in helping Portland to a 3-1 mark on the trip.

On Tuesday he scored 27 points and added nine assists in a 103-96 win over Minnesota.

The Trail Blazers will need more of the same out of Roy if they are to have any shot at the postseason. Portland, which has not made the playoffs since the 1998-99 season is currently 6 1/2 games back of Golden State (39-23) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

Roy faces a difficult challenge against Sacramento as he will be going up against Ron Artest, one of the best defenders in the league.

Artest returned after missing two games with a sore left foot and posted 17 points and four steals in a 114-113 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.

The Kings, who have lost nine of 11, are trying to win consecutive games for the first time since a three-game winning streak from February 19-22.