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--> --> Patterson happy to be back with Trail Blazers PORTLAND, (AP) - The good news for the Portland Trail Blazers outweighed the bad at Wednesday's practice, as Damon Stoudamire prepared to sit out a second straight game but Ruben Patterson was eager to return from a five-game suspension. "I'm excited to get back on the court with my teammates," said Patterson, who served a five-game league suspension for last spring's modified guilty plea to attempted rape. "It's been a long five games just sitting at home watching these guys. It's been frustrating because I know I should be out there helping them. I had a great practice. I'm ready. I'm in shape, so I'm ready." The Blazers could have used Patterson's size, speed and all-out hustle during their 2-3 start, but the team showed great improvement in Wednesday night's 101-83 win over Utah. Rasheed Wallace broke out of his slump with 26 points, scoring 15 in the first quarter as the Blazers shot 71 percent in the period and never trailed. Stoudamire didn't dress because of tendinitis in his right knee. He said he might not play in Thursday night's home game against the Los Angeles Clippers, but should be ready for Portland's five-game road trip that begins Saturday night at Indiana. "It depends how I feel tomorrow during shootaround, but the plan was to rest for these two home games this week then come back for sure the East Coast swing," he said. "But if I feel good in the morning, then I'll play." Coach Maurice Cheeks said that if Stoudamire isn't available, Scottie Pippen again will be the point guard, with Erick Barkley as the backup. On Tuesday night, the lineup of Pippen, Derek Anderson at shooting guard, Bonzi Wells at small forward, Wallace at power forward and Dale Davis at center proved too quick for the aging Jazz. "We had a nice flow going," Cheeks said. Patterson, signed as a free agent over the summer after the Seattle SuperSonics declined to match Portland's offer, was the Blazers' leading scorer during the preseason, averaging 16 points per game. "You know when he comes in, there will be a lot more energy," Cheeks said. "He just gives us all different dimensions. We can have a versatile lineup. He just gives us so many options." Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing