caron butler

Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy left Portland's game against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night after straining his right groin at the end of the first quarter.

Roy was attempting to block a long 3-pointer by Caron Butler and came down awkwardly. The All-Star crumpled to the floor, but then got up and limped off the court.

Roy, Portland's scoring leader with 19.5 points per game, tried to return at 8:13 in the second quarter but left the court after less than 2 minutes and didn't return.

All-Star forward Caron Butler appears set to celebrate his birthday with a return to the lineup Thursday for the Washington Wizards.

"Caron is going to be probable, so we add a little 'Tough Juice' to the lineup," said coach Eddie Jordan, referring to Butler's nickname.

"And we'll see how it goes." Butler has missed 16 straight games and 19 of the last 21 because of a hip injury.

A re-examination of Washington Wizards All-Star forward Caron Butler's hip revealed a small labral tear of the left joint, further complicating his return from injury.

Butler has missed the past 10 games with what was originally diagnosed as a strained hip flexor. He did not accompany the team on the road trip that ends Friday night at Chicago.

The Wizards did not give a timetable for Butler's return.