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Healthy Oden finally playing well for Blazers

Nov 21, 2008 - 11:29 AM Portland (7-5) at Sacramento (5-8) 10:00 p.m. EST

SACRAMENTO, California (Ticker) -- Portland Trail Blazers rookie Greg Oden is finally starting to find his rhythm.

Oden tries to lead the Blazers to back-to-back wins on Friday when they visit the Sacramento Kings.

The 7-foot center, Oden finally made his long awaited home debut on Wednesday, registering 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in 17 minutes as Portland dominated the Chicago Bulls, 116-74, improving to 4-0 at home.

It was the second straight double-double and third in four games for Oden, who had a career-high 22 points and 10 rebounds during Tuesday's loss to the Golden State Warriors.

The Blazers have to be encouraged by Oden's recent play after the 20-year-old missed seven games following a mid-lateral sprain in his right foot suffered during the first quarter of the season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on October 28.

After being selected first overall during the 2007 NBA Draft, Oden missed all of last season following microfracture surgery on his right knee. It now seems that the oft-injured big man is on the right track to meet Portland's lofty expectations.

The Kings snapped a three-game losing streak during their last game, forging a 105-96 victory against the New Orleans Hornets. John Salmons scored 29 points, pacing Sacramento to its second win in six games.