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Trail Blazers get Aldridge, Batum back Wednesday

Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The injury-riddled Portland Trail Blazers will get a pair of starters back for Wednesday's game against the Utah Jazz

Both LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum came out of warmups feeling fine and will be in the lineup, looking to help the Trail Blazers snap a five-game losing skid. 

Aldridge - who was already playing through a torn thumb ligament in his left hand - suffered a sprained left index finger in Saturday's loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. He's averaging a team-leading 23.5 points and 10.4 rebounds in 61 games. 

Batum left Saturday's game with lower back pain, and both players missed Tuesday's loss to the Golden State Warriors. Center Chris Kaman, meanwhile, will miss a third straight game on Wednesday due to a right shoulder strain.

The Trail Blazers are already dealing with the devastating loss of Wesley Matthews, who's out for the season due to a ruptured Achilles.

Despite the losing streak, Portland still carries a four-game lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder for first place in the Northwest Division going into Wednesday's game. 

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