Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan said Brandon Roy's left knee is something to keep an eye on, but is nothing to be concerned about as the team heads into the final seven regular season games.
Roy on Friday played a season-low 26 minutes and 33 seconds at Oklahoma City while wearing a nylon tight on his left leg, which underwent minor off-season knee surgery.
"Yeah, his knee is a little sore,'' McMillan said Saturday night in Houston, where the Blazers (48-27) will face the Rockets (48-28) in a key Western Conference game on Sunday. "But it's somewhat normal for all guys at this time of year.''
Although much of Roy's season-low minutes against the Thunder was influenced by the 35-point blowout victory, which enabled him to sit the entire fourth quarter, he played only 14 minutes in the first half, which is a low amount for him.
It was only the fifth time this season Roy has played less than 30 minutes. For the season, Roy is averaging a team-high 37 minutes and 37 seconds per game.
"We will keep an eye on it,'' McMillan said of Roy's knee. "But right now, we have a lot of guys banged up. Rudy (Fernandez) is still feeling his back (spasms), and he tweaked his ankle a little the other night (at Oklahoma City), and (Steve) Blake still has a sore shoulder ... it's just that time of year.''
