Roy Sparks Blazers In Return Eight Days After Surgery

The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Brandon Roy was so antsy to return to the Trail Blazers that he campaigned via text message to coach Nate McMillan.

"Coach, I think I should play," he texted on the eve of Saturday's playoff game against the Phoenix Suns.

Luckily for the Blazers, McMillan agreed.

Roy was activated Saturday, then helped Portland to a 96-87 victory that evened the first-round series at two games apiece.

Eight days removed from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, Roy made his surprising return to the court to the strains of the theme from "Rocky" blaring from the Rose Garden sound system, then went on hit a key 3-pointer late in the game that shifted the momentum squarely in the Trail Blazers' favor.

"I just didn't feel right sitting in the training room knowing that I could contribute -- so I just had to keep begging coach," Roy said afterward.

The first-round series now moves back to Phoenix on Monday night. It wasn't supposed to include Roy, but things changed Friday.

McMillan said it was a "long, sleepless night" in deciding to play Roy, the team's unquestioned leader. He even brought owner Paul Allen, the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft, in on the discussion.

"All kinds of things went through my head, thinking about the risk of him reinjuring himself," McMillan said. "But our doctors didn't feel like Brandon could hurt himself."

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