Blazers' Batum will play Friday despite wrist sprain

Trail Blazers small forward Nicolas Batum will play through the pain of a sprained right wrist Friday, according to Joe Freeman of the Oregonian. 

Batum suffered the sprain after a mid-air push from Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders on Dec. 18. He sat out last Friday with the injury, returned for two games and then missed another game on Tuesday. 

Despite the injury to his shooting wrist, Batum will suit up and start for the Blazers when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night, which is particularly important now that LaMarcus Aldridge and Chris Kaman have been ruled out.