Brandon Roy has been carrying the Portland Trail Blazers during a difficult stretch of schedule. Now he could be sidelined as they begin an even tougher one.
Having proven they can compete with the Eastern Conference's top teams even without their leading scorer, the Trail Blazers might be missing Roy again Friday when they host one of the West's best, the New Orleans Hornets.Portland (20-12) doesn't know if Roy will be available after he sat out Tuesday's game against Boston with a pulled hamstring. Roy has averaged 29.2 points in his last nine games, but despite their star's absence Tuesday, the Blazers managed to defeat the defending NBA champion 91-86 at the Rose Garden.
"It was huge for us," said LaMarcus Aldridge, who had 20 points and seven rebounds. "He's our go-to guy but guys really stepped up and played good tonight. Today we really had to come together."
The win was the Blazers' third in four games as they continued a brutal stretch. Five of Portland's last six games were against teams with winning records, and their next three opponents, New Orleans (19-9), Detroit and the Los Angeles Lakers, are a combined 63-25.
While it helps that two of those games will be at home, where the Blazers are 12-3, Portland knows that everyone will have to keep contributing if Roy is unavailable.
"We had to step it up a notch," said guard Steve Blake, who had 21 points Tuesday. "But if you're going to win a championship, you're going to have to step it up. We have a lot of talented guys that come to play each night and tonight wasn't any different."
The Blazers have won five straight at home against the Hornets, taking the most recent matchup at the Rose Garden 101-86 on Nov. 28. Roy had 25 points and 10 assists in that game.
New Orleans comes into this game looking for a fourth straight win. It will be opening a four-game road trip that also features matchups with Denver, the Lakers and Utah.
The Hornets earned a 97-85 victory over Washington on Tuesday behind another stellar outing from Chris Paul, who had 15 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds for his seventh career triple-double and third this season.
"He's one of the best point guards ever to grace this game," said teammate Rasual Butler, who had a team-high 21 points. "He's the ultimate talent."
Paul, who tied a career franchise record for triple doubles, overshadowed another solid Blazers defensive effort with his big night. The Hornets are holding opponents to 91.4 points per game this season and 89.0 in the last eight, going 6-2 in that span.
Paul said his team's tough defense helps his offensive game.
"I did notice I was getting more rebounds than normal because when I get rebounds I can start the break," he said. "I don't have to wait for anybody to throw it to me."
New Orleans has averaged 85.6 points during its five-game skid at the Rose Garden.
