LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum Return to Practice

Trail Blazers digital reporter Casey Holdahl reports on ForwardCenter.net that LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum returned to a light practice this morning. Both players are still questionable for tomorrow night's home matchup with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Aldridge is clearly feeling better but recalls how the sickness hit him:

"Next morning, I felt like death," said Aldridge. "I woke up and couldn't really move and just bad headache, just one of those things that knocks you out. So I came in, saw the team doctor and he agreed that I looked pretty bad so I went home. The only thing that I can do for that is just rest, so I've been trying to get a lot of rest the last couple days. I feel better now."

Batum suggests he still must wait and see how he feels tomorrow:

"I just had a little workout today, try to get back like in game shape," said Batum, who is listed as doubtful for Monday night. "That was the first time I really test my knee like full speed, 100 percent so I can feel it a little bit. The bruise is under the bone, not on the bone, under, so I can feel it a little bit so I don't know about tomorrow yet. I've got to test it again tomorrow morning and before the game."

Stotts says he's happy about the way the bench filled in, but is looking forward to Aldridge and Batum's return:

"It's difficult because Nic and LaMarcus are going to play minutes," said Stotts. "The guys who have played have played well and taken advantage of the opportunity, but the reality is that Nic and LaMarcus are going to come back and be starters and play starters minutes and that takes away the minutes from other people."

The Blazers are 3-0 this season without Batum in the lineup, and 1-0 with Aldridge out.