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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 2:11 p.m., Wednesday, March 18, 2009

NBA: Blazers C Oden to return against Pacers

By CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS — Greg Oden will finally play in his hometown as a pro.

The 7-foot center is set to return to the Portland Trail Blazers' lineup today against the Indiana Pacers after sitting out for more than a month with a bone chip in his left knee, coach Nate McMillan said.

The top pick in the 2007 draft and former Lawrence North High School star sat out last season after microfracture surgery on his right knee, so he missed the Trail Blazers' visit to Indiana last season.

Oden was hurt in a collision during a game at Golden State before the All-Star break. McMillan said he expects the former Ohio State star to play 15 to 20 minutes.

Oden is averaging 9.0 and 7.2 rebounds in 46 games this season.