LaMarcus Aldridge Injury: Updates on Blazers Star's Back

The Portland Trail Blazers aren’t taking any chances with their star big, LaMarcus Aldridge.

UPDATE: Monday, November 26 at 6:32 p.m. ET by Ian Hanford

According to The Oregonian reporter Joe Freeman, Aldridge will play Monday night versus the Detroit Pistons:

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After testing his aching back with pregame shooting, LaMarcus Aldridge says he will play tonight when #Blazers visit the Pistons.

— Joe Freeman (@BlazerFreeman) November 26, 2012"

---End of Update---

He’s not getting the start against the Brooklyn Nets and isn’t likely to see the floor at all on Sunday afternoon. According to CSNNW’s Chris B. Haynes, the Blazers are starting rookie Meyers Leonard in his place for this Barclays Center battle:

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The #Blazers will start PG Damian Lillard, SG Wesley Matthews, SF Nicolas Batum, PF J.J. Hickson, and C Meyers Leonard vs Nets.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) November 25, 2012"

Joe Freeman of The Oregonian is reporting that Aldridge is suffering from a stiff back. He initially tweaked it in Friday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves and hasn’t healed completely as of Sunday afternoon.

It will be the first missed game of the season for Aldridge, who missed the end of 2011-12 campaign with a hip injury that required surgery.

The captain of the team and best player, Aldridge is averaging 19.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. He’s one of the few serviceable big men on the entire roster, and the team is likely to suffer without the PF/C in the lineup.

We expect Leonard and Jared Jeffries to soak up most of the minutes his absence frees up, and Luke Babbitt—who normally plays the 3—to also see some time due to his size.

Aldridge is likely not going to be sidelined for long and just needs his back to feel good enough to go out there and play. He’s not sustained any major damage that we know of and is likely taking a day to rest in order to get healthy and back in the lineup at full effectiveness.

We’ll keep you updated right here with the latest on the Portland Trail Blazers superstar.