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Blazers' Aldridge, Batum, Kaman expected back Wednesday

Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

The Northwest Division champion Portland Trail Blazers will be closer to full strength for Wednesday's game against the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves.

All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, small forward Nicolas Batum and backup center Chris Kaman are all expected to return to the lineup following a game off.

None of the three players traveled with the Blazers for Monday's game in Brooklyn, as Aldridge nurses thumb and finger injuries, Batum deals with a back ailment and Kaman has a strained shoulder and sprained thumb.

The Blazers are already without shooting guard Wesley Matthews for the remainder of the season after he suffered a ruptured Achilles last month, and will be without forward Dorell Wright for four-to-six weeks due to a hand fracture.

With the division and the Western Conference's No. 4 seed all but wrapped up, the Blazers seemingly have little to play for over the regular season's final week. But they currently have a lower winning percentage than the fifth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers and sixth-seeded San Antonio Spurs, meaning they would likely open their 4-versus-5 opening-round postseason series on the road.

Considering Portland is 31-8 at home and just 19-19 on the road, playing for home-court advantage over the next week likely means more to them than most West playoff teams.

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