BY MIKE ACKER

MIAMI, FLA — Rookie Center Greg Oden returned from injury Wednesday night in Miami, helping the Trail Blazers (5-3) defeat the Miami Heat (4-4) 104-96 in front of a crowd of 15,021 at American Airways Arena. Oden played just over 16 minutes off the bench, finishing with three points, two rebounds, and two blocked shots.

The Trail Blazer’s notched their fourth win in a row, their second of the five game road trip, and their third in a row against Miami. Rudy Fernandez led the way with a career-high 25 points in 29 minutes off the bench. The Spanish guard iced the game by hitting a turnaround jump shot in the lane with 44 seconds remaining and the shot clock winding down.

"I know it's the last seconds," said Fernandez. "I put in this (spin) move because only 4 or 3 seconds, and today I make. In Utah I miss shot three pints. Today, I make."

The Trail Blazers jumped out to an early lead, leading by as much as seven in the first quarter. At one point in the first, Portland knocked down nine consecutive field goal attempts while also grabbing six offensive rebounds. Oden’s dunk after an offensive rebound with 49 seconds remaining in the first period gave the Blazers a 27-19 lead. The dunk was Oden’s first regular season basket as a professional.

Miami closed the gap in the second quarter after trailing by as many as 12 with 7:48 left to play. Fernandez hit one of his three three-point baskets 13 seconds before the halftime buzzer to give the Trail Blazers a 50-47 lead going into the intermission.

“He is getting better," said Nate McMillan of Fernandez's performance. "He still is learning the NBA game. He is a very talented player. Early in the game he had a few turnovers trying to do some things a little too fast. He made some big shots and some big plays. The more time he spends on the floor learning what we want to do, he is going to be a really good player. He had a big night tonight.”

Portland had struggled this season to close out games, and Wednesday’s game proved to no different. Miami finished the third quarter up one thanks to a made jump shot and free throw by back-up point guard Chris Quinn as time expired. In the fourth quarter Miami got as close four with just over a minute left to play, but Fernandez’s basket in the lane effectively put the game away. Portland’s final points came by way of the free-throw line, where they shot 74.2% on the night.

Brandon Roy, who before the game had been listed as day-to-day with back spasms, showed no sign of injury in 36 minutes of action. Roy finished the night with 22 points, shooting 6-13 from the field and 10-13 from the line.

Speaking about his injury after the game, Roy said: "It was cool early when I was warm, but then during timeouts and down the stretch it got a little sore. That's why we got a team. Rudy stepped up big. Travis made some big shots, and that's what we need. When somebody goes down, somebody else steps up."

LaMarcus Aldridge led the team in minutes played with 38, and had 14 points, seven rebounds and a career-high four steals on the night. Travis Outlaw rounded out the top five in scoring, finishing with 10 points.

Portland was aided under the basket both by Oden’s return and the Heat’s lack of an inside presence. The Trail Blazers outscored the Heat 42-38 in the paint, and won the rebound battle 40-35. Joel Pryzbilla led the Trail Blazers with 10 rebounds, including three on the offensive end.

The Trail Blazers continue their road trip Friday at Western Conference semi-finalist New Orleans Hornets.

Highlights || Fernandez, Roy post-game