Notes: Dec. 4 Blazers practice

Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan and assistant coach Monty Williams ran drills Friday with the team, due to a lack of healthy bodies. McMillan tweaked his right ankle while playing, though. He was interviewed following the practice while sitting on a trainer’s table, and his ankle was iced.

“Everything was going good,” McMillan said. “I had a couple steals. Took a few charges. And then felt like somebody just kicked me.”

McMillan stated that he planned to have his ankle checked out following the interview.

“We needed to get some work. We needed some 5 on 5,” McMillan said. “We had gone through this on Wednesday, 4 on 4, and another day of that —I thought we needed some 5 on 5.”

Blazers center Greg Oden (ankle sprain) and forward LaMarcus Aldridge (right knee bone contusion) sat out Friday’s practice. Oden practiced shooting at the end, though. Aldridge was not on the court when the media was allowed in. He is listed as questionable for Saturday’s home game against the Houston Rockets, according to the team. Oden was held out as a precautionary measure. While McMillan said Oden and Aldridge will be game-time decisions, Oden stated that he expects to play.

“I think somebody just ran over my leg in the last game,” Oden said. “It’s all right. I don’t think it’ll be a problem. Just taking today off to make sure that I’m ready for the game tomorrow.”

Rookie guard Patty Mills participated in drills.

Rookie forward Jeff Pendergraph did as well. He said he is making good progress in his recovery from hip surgery, and is now able to participate in everything save for full-action scrimmages.