Grizzlies 90 - 94 Trail Blazers
Final
  for this game

Grizzlies' Miles returns to Portland

Feb 18, 2009 - 12:33 PM Memphis (15-38) at Portland (32-20) 10:00 p.m. EST

PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) -- Darius Miles has become Portland's public enemy No. 1 since signing with the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this season.

Miles faces his former team on Wednesday when the Grizzlies visit the Portland Trail Blazers.

The 27-year-old forward returned from what was thought to be career-ending knee surgery and signed with Memphis on January 10.

The signing proved costly for the Trail Blazers, who waived Miles last season when doctors predicted that microfracture surgery on his right knee would end his basketball career.

Miles' improbable comeback put Portland on the hook for the $18 million and two years remaining on his deal.

Two days prior to his signing with Memphis, the Trail Blazers threatened to sue any team that signed Miles in an effort to prevent the huge salary cap hit.

The $18 million went back on Portland's cap when Miles played in his 10th game of the season on January 16.

The Blazers can take solace in the fact that while the Grizzlies flounder at the bottom of the Southwest Division, they sit fourth in the Western Conference, 3 1/2 games behind the Denver Nuggets (36-17) in the Northwest despite suffering a 105-98 setback to the Golden State Warriors on Thursday.

Memphis is coming off back-to-back losses, including a 117-99 drubbing against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.






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