Trail Blazers-Kings Preview

4/10/2008 1:13 PM

By MIKE VOTTA
STATS Senior Writer

The Portland Trail Blazers are out of the playoff race, but they still have incentive to finish the season strong.

The Trail Blazers will be trying to move back over .500 on Friday when they visit the Sacramento Kings.

Portland beat the playoff-bound Los Angeles Lakers 112-103 on Tuesday, ending a five-game losing streak and pulling its record to 39-39. The Trail Blazers had dropped under .500 for the first time since Dec. 14, when they were in the middle of a 13-game winning streak.

The Blazers are trying to avoid finishing with a losing record for the first time since 2003-04, when they ended up 41-41. They haven't finished with a winning record since 2002-03, also the last time they made the postseason.

"Coach said, 'Go out and play with attitude and try to mess with some things in the West,' and we did that tonight," said Brandon Roy, who scored 23 points and matched his career high with 12 assists.

LaMarcus Aldridge added 22 points and 16 rebounds, and Channing Frye had season highs of 22 points and 11 boards as all of Portland's starters scored in double digits for the first time this season. Frye started in place of Joel Przybilla, who broke his hand on the rim in Sunday's 72-65 loss to San Antonio and is out for the season.

"I was just playing basketball," Frye told Portland's official team Web site. "The coach wanted us to run a little bit more tonight, and I think that's the type of team we are - a run-and-go team. You see everybody got opportunities."

Martell Webster missed his third straight game since he was briefly hospitalized with dizziness and flu-like symptoms last week. Webster was examined for an irregular heartbeat and cleared to play after he recovers from the insertion of a catheter into his leg, but it is uncertain whether he will return this season.

Portland, which has dropped three straight on the road, won't be able to play spoiler on Friday. The Kings (36-42) will miss the playoffs and finish with a losing record for the second straight season.

Sacramento set a season high in scoring but lost 140-132 at Golden State on Tuesday. Still, the Kings were pleased with the way they played with starters Ron Artest and Brad Miller sidelined.

Artest sat for the second time in three games with a sprained thumb, and Miller was shut down for the season with injuries to his left leg and right elbow. Beno Udrih returned after missing seven games with a strained lower back.

"To lose a game by eight that's a must-win situation for them - in their building, with a depleted roster - I'm very happy with how we played tonight," coach Reggie Theus said. "You are watching (Francisco Garcia) and Kevin (Martin) grow right in front of you. ... They're evolving in front of us, which is nice to see."

Garcia matched his career high with 31 points and Kevin Martin had 29, but just two in the fourth quarter. In the last 10 games, Garcia has averaged 16.5 points, more than double his career average. Martin has scored 29.0 points per game in his last eight.