LaMarcus Aldridge will return to the Portland Trail Blazers' lineup for the first time in seven games on Thursday against the Atlanta Hawks.

Aldridge was out with a back injury suffered during a nasty fall on March 12. 

“I’m going,” Aldridge said. “We’ll see how it goes, but I’m going.”

Aldridge said he still feels some pain in the back when he runs, but he said it’s just time he plays.

“I want to come back because I’ve been out so long,” he said. “I didn’t think it was going to take this long, but backs are a sensitive area to injure. It’s taken longer, and we’ve exhausted every treatment and every option to rehab, so try it out.”

The Portland Trail Blazers have assigned rookie guard Allen Crabbe to the NBA Development League’s Idaho Stampede.

Crabbe is averaging 2.1 points, 0.3 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 5.1 minutes in 14 games for the Trail Blazers this season.

This marks Crabbe's second assignment to the D-League.

The Portland Trail Blazers have recalled Allen Crabbe from the Idaho Stampede of the NBA D-League.

Crabbe has played 12 games for the Blazers this season.

LaMarcus Aldridge will miss two games and then be re-evaluated after suffering a lower back contusion in Wednesday night's loss to the San Antonio Sours.

An MRI confirmed the injury.

Aldridge is averaging 23.4 points and 11.1 rebounds per game this season.

Damian Lillard initiated the Portland Trail Blazers' first team meeting, hash-out session after Wednesday night's loss to the San Antonio Spurs, their fourth straight defeat.

Earl Watson, Mo Williams and Dorell Wright were among the players who addressed the team.

“I just felt like it was something that needed to be said,” Lillard said. “At some point, it’s up to the players.”

The Blazers believe there is no desperation in the locker room but know they need to figure out what is wrong nearing the stretch run of the season.

“It’s time for a players-meeting when we see a little slippage,” Wright said. “Every team has two or three a year. I love the fact that this was the only one this season where guys really had to step up and be vocal leaders."

The Portland Trail Blazers have assigned rookie guard Allen Crabbe to the NBA Development League’s Idaho Stampede.

Crabbe is averaging 2.0 points, 0.2 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 4.9 minutes in 12 games for the Trail Blazers this season.

This will mark Crabbe's first D-League assignment of the season.