LaMarcus Aldridge's X-ray negative but no timetable for return

LaMarcus Aldridge is in the midst of his third All-Star season for the No. 5 Trail Blazers. (Bill Baptist/Getty Images)

The good news for Portland Trail Blazers All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge is that an x-ray on his back is negative following a hard fall on Wednesday night. The bad news is there's no timetable for the three-time All-Star's return, according to Peter Socotch of Comcast SportsNet Northwest.  

As footage below shows, the 28-year-old Aldridge took a bad fall on the court and suffered a back contusion after colliding with Spurs big man Aron Baynes in the opening moments of the third quarter of Portland's loss to San Antonio on Wednesday night. It appeared that he fell on his tailbone and, following the injury, was seen being helped off the court and later moving about the sidelines in a wheelchair.

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The injury was bad enough for even Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich to chime in with well-wishes for the Blazers star, according to Holdahl:

"I hope [LaMarcus Aldridge] comes back quickly. He is a hell of a player and nobody wants to see that."

Aldridge had already missed five games this year because of a lingering groin injury. He's averaging 23.4, 11.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 60 games this season in which he was named a Western Conference All-Star.

After a hot start to the season, the Blazers have cooled off and are currently in the midst of a four-game losing streak. With Aldridge out indefinitely and backup guard Mo Williams out after suffering a mild hip injury on Tuesday, the pressure will now fall squarely on second year All-Star guard Damian Lillard as the Blazers cling to the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference with a 42-23 record.

"I hope (@aldridge_12) comes back quickly. He is a hell of a player and nobody wants to see that." -- Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich—

Casey Holdahl (@CHold) March 13, 2014