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Oden faces Shaq for first time as Blazers visit Suns

Nov 22, 2008 - 11:18 AM Portland (8-5) at Phoenix (8-5) 9:00 pm. EST

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Rookie Greg Oden will get an up-close-and-personal look at the most dominating big man of this generation on Friday when the Portland Trail Blazers visit Shaquille O'Neal and the Phoenix Suns.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft, Oden missed his entire "rookie" campaign after undergoing microfracture surgery on his right knee. The 7-0, 285-pound Oden also missed six games with an ankle sprain he suffered in his first career game.

He showed flashes of his potential on Wednesday, scoring 22 points and pulling down 10 rebounds in a 111-106 win over Golden State. Oden is averaging 9.7 points and 6.8 rebounds in six games since returning.

O'Neal is the gold standard for the position, and will likely teach Oden a thing or two about playing the pivot. The three-time NBA champion had 15 points and nine rebounds in a 105-92 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

The highly anticipated first meeting between Oden and O'Neal is one subplot of this contest. The other is the poor play of the Suns, who are looking to avoid a third straight loss against a team they have dominated lately.

Phoenix has won 10 straight over Portland and hasn't lost to the Trail Blazers since a 111-101 setback on March 12, 2006.

Meanwhile, the Blazers are firing on all cylinders offensively. Steve Blake hit six 3-pointers and led six players in double figures as Portland cruised to a 117-96 win over Sacramento on Friday. That triumph came on the heels of a 116-74 thrashing of Chicago on Wednesday.