Hornets vs. Blazers, 7 p.m. at Rose Garden
TV: Comcast SportsNet Northwest (37)
Radio: 95.5 FM
PROBABLE STARTERS
Blazers (27-18)
Position/player Ht. Pts.
G Andre Miller 6-2 13.2
G Jerryd Bayless 6-3 8.9
F Martell Webster 6-7 11.0
F LaMarcus Aldridge 6-11 16.3
C Juwan Howard 6-9 5.5
Coach: Nate McMillan (5th season, 175-198)
Hornets (23-20)
Position/player Ht. Pts.
G Chris Paul 6-0 19.9
G Devin Brown 6-5 9.7
F Peja Stojakovic 6-10 11.6
F Darius Songaila 6-9 7.2
C Emeka Okafor 6-10 11.0
Coach: Jeff Bower (1st season, 20-14)
As has been the case all season, the Portland Trail Blazers are winning games while losing players.
The Blazers went 2-2 on a four-game road trip, picking up victories over Philadelphia and Detroit.
In the process, Portland watched All-Star guard Brandon Roy aggravate a strained right hamstring, while guard Jerryd Bayless sprained his left foot.
Roy is expected to be out at least three more games, while Bayless is questionable for tonight’s 7 p.m. contest against New Orleans at the Rose Garden.
Hornets vs. Blazers, 7 p.m. at Rose Garden
TV: Comcast SportsNet Northwest (37)
Radio: 95.5 FM
PROBABLE STARTERS
Blazers (27-18)
Position/player Ht. Pts.
G Andre Miller 6-2 13.2
G Jerryd Bayless 6-3 8.9
F Martell Webster 6-7 11.0
F LaMarcus Aldridge 6-11 16.3
C Juwan Howard 6-9 5.5
Coach: Nate McMillan (5th season, 175-198)
Hornets (23-20)
Position/player Ht. Pts.
G Chris Paul 6-0 19.9
G Devin Brown 6-5 9.7
F Peja Stojakovic 6-10 11.6
F Darius Songaila 6-9 7.2
C Emeka Okafor 6-10 11.0
Coach: Jeff Bower (1st season, 20-14)
The Blazers (27-18) sit three games behind first-place Denver in the Northwest Division, and Portland is fourth in the Western Conference standings.
In addition, the Blazers are one win off last season’s pace — a year in which Portland finished with 54 wins and made the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2003.
And the Blazers have done it all despite racking up 209 missed games due to injury — a mark that already bests Portland’s total of 205 from last season.
“We could have easily just said, ‘Let’s tank the season, ’ ” said Blazers forward Juwan Howard, following Portland’s 97-93 road victory over the Pistons on Saturday. “With all the injuries that we are dealing with, it is an easy out. But it has been totally opposite with this group.”
