Blazers lose Oden, beat Rockets
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The somber Portland Trail Blazers found it difficult to celebrate a victory after losing Greg Oden.
Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden is attended to by medical personnel after getting injured during the first quarter of their NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets in Portland, Oregon December 5, 2009. [Agencies]
Brandon Roy had 28 points and scored the winning basket to help Portland beat Houston 90-89 on Saturday night, but the Blazers were both solemn and resolute with the probable season-ending injury to Oden in the first quarter.
"I told everyone in the locker room I felt this was like a punch to the gut," said Portland general manager Kevin Pritchard, who selected Oden No 1 in the 2007 draft.
Oden fractured his left kneecap while jumping to defend Aaron Brooks. He was carried off the floor on a stretcher. Oden will undergo surgery and is expected to miss the rest of the season, Blazers spokeswoman Cheri Hanson said.
Oden collapsed to the floor clutching his knee and grimacing in pain midway through the first quarter. Oden's knee did not appear to make any contact with Brooks. Play was stopped for 7 minutes while the 7-footer was tended to. He was wheeled from the court and underwent an MRI.
"I went initially to help him up," Roy said.
"Then I saw him and he was yelling and I thought, "This is serious.' I almost panicked. I wanted to be like,' Stop the game!'"
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