Blazers' Aldridge, Batum, Kaman won't travel with team for Monday's game

The Portland Trail Blazers are looking to get some rest for some of their banged-up players as the playoffs approach. 

With a one-game road trip on tap – a tilt with the Nets in Brooklyn on Monday night – the Blazers will leave power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, small forward Nicolas Batum and center Chris Kaman behind, the team announced. 

Aldridge and Batum have both been dealing with numerous injuries in the second half of the season – Aldridge has played through a torn thumb ligament and a sprained index finger, Batum has dealt with ongoing wrist issues and a mild back injury – while Kaman recently picked up a shoulder strain and a thumb sprain. 

With Wesley Matthews already done for the season with a torn Achilles and Dorell Wright now out four-to-six weeks with a hand fracture, playing without that trio of frontcourt guys will make things pretty tough on the few Blazers left standing on Monday. 

While having everybody as healthy as possible heading into the postseason should obviously be the team's top priority – especially considering they've already locked up the Northwest Division – it's not as if they have nothing to play for. 

They're a half-game behind the Los Angeles Clippers (with the Blazers' division title acting as tiebreaker) for home-court advantage in what would be the 4-5 matchup if the playoffs started today. 

Meanwhile, Blazers center Robin Lopez will be squaring off against his twin brother, Brook, in Monday's game. 

Said Brook: "I hate that guy and we'll probably hopefully destroy him."

The Blazers have won six of their last seven games after a season-long five-game losing streak.