NOTE: Please read Ben's earlier post on Joel's send-off. The game will likely end at about 10:00, so there should be time for those in the Portland area to get to the airport and give Joel a proper goodbye.
Portland pulled off a major deadline deal last season in trading for Marcus Camby, a move that spurred the team on to a late season run; will the same happen this year? Tonight, the temporarily Gerald Wallace-less Portland Trail Blazers host the new-look Denver Nuggets (Media notes). As the Blazers traded away Joel Przybilla, Sean Marks, and Dante Cunningham in the Wallace deal, they're rather short-handed in the frontcourt, forcing Nicolas Batum into service as the backup center. Facing a Denver team that features Nene, tonight's contest may prove to be quite a challenge.
Injury report: Brandon Roy returned on Wednesday. He will play, but his minutes are again expected to be limited.
Tip-off: 7:40pm
Watch: ESPN (National)
Listen: 95.5 FM The Game (Portland), NBA Audio League Pass (Free)
The usual rules apply:
- No swearing
- No pictures
- No discussion of Internet streams not provided by the NBA
Go Blazers!