TUALATIN, Ore. — Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy will not play tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Rose Garden.
Roy, who is recovering from a strained right hamstring, has missed 11 of Portland’s last 12 games heading into tonight’s matchup.
Jerryd Bayless will start in Roy’s place, Portland coach Nate McMillan said. The Blazers will use a starting lineup of Andre Miller, Bayless, Martell Webster, LaMarcus Aldridge and Juwan Howard.
Roy, a three-time All-Star, leads the Blazers in average points (23.1) and ranks second in assists (5.0).
The decision to hold Roy out stemmed from tightness he felt in his hamstring during practice Friday, McMillan said.
By missing tonight’s contest versus the Lakers, Roy said Friday he is unlikely to play in the NBA All-Star game — scheduled Feb. 14 in Arlington, Tex. — if he sits out the Blazers’ final two games prior to the All-Star break.
McMillan and Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard acknowledged that the possibility takes on more weight with each game that Roy misses.
Pritchard said Roy’s status could change any day. But Pritchard added that there could be a point when he steps in and makes a decision that represents the best interests of the organization.
Portland (30-22) holds down the seventh spot in the Western Conference playoff standings, and the Blazers sit five games behind first-place Denver in the Northwest Division.
If a healthy Roy rejoins Portland after the All-Star break, the team would have 27 regular-season games remaining to make a playoff push.
“There are times when I’ve got to manage players, too,” Pritchard said. “And, hey, if I feel like he needs to sit out more, I’m good with that, too. “
