antonborisov

Это — об этой игре, на которую Брэндон Рой вышел играть через 8 дней после операции на колене.

На английском, поэтому, все убираю под “кат”.

PORTLAND (NBA.com exclusive) — Brandon Roy provided the emotional lift and some clutch plays in the end.

LaMarcus Aldridge came up big all game long.

And the Portland Trail Blazers are very much alive in their first-round playoff series with the Phoenix Suns.

Eight days after arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, Roy came off the bench to help the Blazers to a 96-87 victory over the Suns, evening the best-of-seven series at 2-2.

Aldridge maligned for his ineffective play in the first three games responded with his best career playoff performance, collecting 31 points and 11 rebounds.

Roy’s return energized the sellout Rose Garden crowd of 20,151 and his teammates, who were buoyed by the presence of their captain.

“Having Brandon back helps tremendously,” Aldridge said. The Suns “can’t do some of the things they did to us early (in the series) with Brandon out there.”

The decision to bring Roy back so soon after his April 16 surgery was made “after a long, sleepless night,” Portland coach Nate McMillan said.

It was initially announced the three-time All-Star would be out one to two weeks, and that he would definitely miss the Phoenix series. But Roy’s knee felt good right away, and the timetable “just kept moving up,” McMillan said. “We talked about if we could get the series to a sixth game, possibly. Then up to possibly (Game 5).”

After a light 2-on-2 workout with teammates on Friday, Roy was convinced he was healthy enough to play, “but Coach (McMillan) really didn’t want me to play,” Roy said. “He was thinking long-term.”

After a series of text messages between coach and player Friday night, McMillan consulted owner Paul Allen and general manager Kevin Pritchard. After assurances from team doctor Don Roberts who performed the surgery that Roy wasn’t risking further injury by playing, McMillan gave him the green light.

When Roy entered Saturday’s game with 4:06 left and Portland ahead 18-17, the ensuing thunderous roar was deafening in the Garden.

“I got chills when he got up and the crowd saw he was going to the scorer’s table,” McMillan said. “I know our players fed off of that, the emotions and the energy in the building and having him back.”

Aldridge noticed something else.

“As soon as he checked into the game, I got my first shot with nobody guarding me,” the 6-11 forward said. “It was like, ‘thank God he’s back.’ ”

Aldridge missed that shot, but made 11 of 19 attempts along with 9-of-12 from the foul line on a variety of shots from 18 feet on in.

Отсюда.

А вот что написали о “Blazers” в Preview (предисловии) к этой, четвертой игре. О травмах, полученных игроками за весь сезон, — тоже написано.

But the Blazers have another challenge, overcoming yet another injury.

Forward Nicolas Batum, arguably the team’s best perimeter defender, aggravated the right shoulder injury he first suffered in Game 2. The Blazers were calling his availability for Saturday a game-time decision.

The injury was troublesome because Batum had surgery on the same shoulder before the start of the season and he missed 45 games.

The Blazers can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to injuries. They’re without All-Star guard and team leader Roy, who had arthroscopic surgery on his knee to repair a torn meniscus two days before the start of the playoffs.

Roy was earlier ruled out of the series against the Suns, although he said he feels great and there’s a possibility he could play if the Blazers make it to a Game 7.

After Batum was sidelined to start the season, the Blazers lost centers Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla to season-ending knee injuries, swingman Rudy Fernandez had back issues and Travis Outlaw had foot surgery. Outlaw was later traded to the Clippers in a deal that brought center Marcus Camby to Portland.

In all, 13 Blazers missed a combined 311 regular-season games, second only to Golden State this season. Only Miller and forward Martell Webster played in all 82 games.

Здесь — Preview.

Судя по всему, выход лучшего игрока Портланда оказался для “Suns” большим “сюрпризом”.