MIAMI — The Trail Blazers will play one more game without LaMarcus Aldridge. At least.
The All-Star power forward has been ruled for the Blazers' Monday night matchup against the Miami Heat with a back contusion, guaranteeing he will miss his sixth consecutive game with the lingering ailment.
Coach Terry Stotts refused to reveal further details — whether or not Aldridge practiced, whether he's making progress, etc. — as has become the norm, so it's unclear when Aldridge will return. On Saturday, before the Blazers were steamrolled by the Charlotte Bobcats, Aldridge went through extended shooting drills following the team's morning shootaround.
But while that was a positive sign in his recovery, it’s anybody’s guess as to when Aldridge will be healed enough to play. The Blazers visit the Orlando Magic on Tuesday in the second game of a Florida back-to-back, then finish their five-game East Coast trip with games at Atlanta and Chicago later in the week.
Aldridge suffered his injury March 12 at San Antonio, when he drove into the lane for a shot and collided with Aron Baynes, which caused him to crash violently to the court. He has not played since, missing five games in a row. The Blazers are 3-2 in those games, and — factoring in five games he missed in February with a left groin injury — are 7-3 without the player who was a borderline MVP candidate in the first half of the season.
Aldridge leads the Blazers in scoring (23.4 points per game), rebounding (11.1) and minutes played (36.5).
--Joe Freeman