INQUIRER Sports

PORTLAND? Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden will probably miss the remainder of the NBA season after suffering a fractured left kneecap on Saturday in a 90-89 victory over Houston.

The 7-foot American will undergo surgery as a result of the injury, the Blazers announced after an MRI exam was performed on Oden, the top pick in the 2007 NBA Draft who missed the entire 2007-2008 season after right knee surgery.

"I'm obviously disappointed, having worked so hard to get to where I was," Oden said in a statement. "This is a setback but I'll be back."

Oden went down grabbing his left knee 6:15 into the first quarter and was taken off the court on a stretcher following a collision with Aaron Brooks as the Rockets player was driving to the basket.

Trainers treated Oden for several tense minutes before he was taken from the playing area, never managing to stand on his own before leaving as fans chanted his name.

The former Indiana high school star is averaging 11.7 points and 8.8 rebounds so far this season as the Trail Blazers are off to a 12-8 start.

Oden missed 14 games last season with a bone chip in his left knee and six more after hurting his right foot in the opening game.