by Jim Taylor
Trailblazers.com

Las Vegas, NV -- The Portland Trail Blazers returned to Las Vegas summer league action on Monday, but this time it was two scrimmage games at Durango High School.

No official stats were kept for the game, but Wayne Thompson, a long-time member of the Trail Blazers stat crew and TrailBlazers.com senior writer, was on hand to track the unofficial stats.

Portland took on Denver in the first game losing to the Nuggets on a buzzer beater, 50-48.

Martell Webster had an impressive showing despite the loss with 18 points (7-13 FG) and at one point hit four straight 3-pointers. Joel Freeland added nine points (4-7 FG), including a three pointer, and collected five rebounds. Josh McRoberts added five points (2-3 FG), including a three pointer, while Greg Oden scored one point, grabbed two rebounds and had three blocked shots.

The Trail Blazers turned it up a notch in their second scrimmage against the Los Angeles Clippers, but unfortunately the result was the same with the Portland losing again on a last second shot, 42-40.

Oden had his best effort of the summer league though, especially in the second half, where his presence in the middle forced the Clippers outside. Oden scored 14 points (4-5 FG), six rebounds and two blocked shots. Webster added 10 points (5-12 FG).

LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland’s most productive player in the Las Vegas summer league, was given the day off and watched both games from the bench.

Most of the attention Tuesday was on Oden’s health. Oden has been suffering from a sinus infection, which has plagued him since his June workout with Portland. Now it appears Oden’s tonsils are causing him a good deal of trouble that may require a tonsillectomy. Oden will leave Las Vegas today for Los Angeles where he will be a presenter at ESPN’s ESPY Awards. There’s no official word on whether Oden will rejoin the Trail Blazers for their final summer league games this weekend, but it’s looking more and more like Portland will shut down their prized rookie for the remainder of the summer.

Portland returns to summer league action on Wednesday night when they take on the Los Angeles Lakers at the Thomas and Mack Center.