http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=291006022
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Reserve Greg Oden had 18 points and nine rebounds in the Portland Trail Blazers' 98-86 victory over the Sacramento Kings in the preseason opener for both teams on Tuesday night.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 20 points for Portland and Andre Miller, signed as a free agent in the offseason, came off the bench to score 16 and heat up the compe ion with Steve Blake for Portland's starting point guard spot.
Rookie Tyreke Evans started for the Kings after bruising his left knee at the start of training camp. The fourth overall pick from Memphis had 12 points and five rebounds in 24 minutes.
It was the preseason debut of new Kings coach Paul Westphal, who took over in the offseason. Sacramento went 17-65 last season.
Westphal hasn't coached in the NBA since 2001, but has 22 years of coaching experience and led the Phoenix Suns to the 1993 NBA finals.
Kevin Martin and Jason Thompson also had 12 points apiece for Sacramento.
The Blazers won 54 games last season as the second-youngest team in the NBA. They fiddled with their roster a bit in the offseason, adding experience in Miller and Juwan Howard, and are hoping to take the next step after returning to the postseason.
"Basketball is back," Portland coach Nate McMillan said. "The leaves are falling off the trees. It's getting cool. You take all that summer stuff and put it in the closet, get out all the winter stuff. It's time."
Aldridge and two-time All-Star Brandon Roy, the anchors of the team, played the most minutes against the Kings. Aldridge played 28 minutes, while Roy played 27.
McMillan said Roy had asked him for some extra time on the court during the preseason, because "he felt he wasn't really right," going into last year's regular season.
Portland forward Martell Webster, who missed all but five minutes of last season with a foot injury, received a hearty ovation when he came into the game midway through the first quarter.
Kings swingman Desmond Mason did not play because of back spasms.
There was one scary moment when Sacramento forward Francisco Garcia went up to shoot over Joel Przybilla and kneed the Blazers' center in the rib cage. Przybilla was prone on the court for several minutes but eventually resumed playing.
The teams meet again Wednesday night in Sacramento.
Orly?
9 rebounds, lol.
blair > oldman
What does Roy mean by sayin that "he felt he wasnt really right" ?
He clarified it a little better that last season he felt as if he wasnt in his groove during the start of the season, due in part to him not playing much in exhibition.. this year he was hoping to change that.
Oh, Portland played their starters in a preseason game? That's cool.
You guys have to cut Juwan Howard or you are doomed...
DD
Holy !!! The Blazers beat the kings??!!!! In the off season??!!!!
Blazers are going to be the '09-'10 champs! Book it!
Yeah, somebody told them it was the finals.Oh, Portland played their starters in a preseason game? That's cool.
parade time!
^ Beat me to it.
Parade?
blazers suck
LOL blazers playing preseason to win
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