Blazers' LaMarcus Aldridge suffers hand injury, X-rays negative

LaMarcus Aldridge was forced from action with a left hand injury during Portland's 98-94 home victory over the Kings on Monday.

The Blazers announced that X-rays on Aldridge's hand came back negative, but the three-time All-Star forward will undergo further evaluation on Tuesday.

Aldridge appeared to sustain the injury to his left thumb while swiping down to steal the ball from DeMarcus Cousins with a little under three minutes remaining in the first quarter. Aldridge remained in the game until the 10:26 mark of the second quarter before departing to the locker room with the team's training staff. He did not return to the game and finished with 10 points and one rebound in 14 minutes.

Aldridge, 29, is leading Portland in scoring and rebounding, averaging a career-high 23.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. SI.com recently tabbed Aldridge to fill one of the West's starting spots in next month's All-Star Game.

Portland (31-11) possesses the West's second-best record despite recent injuries to starting center Robin Lopez (hand) and back-up big man Joel Freeland (shoulder). If Aldridge winds up missing time, coach Terry Stotts will be forced to scrape together a frontcourt rotation that includes Chris Kaman, Meyers Leonard, Thomas Robinson and Dorell Wright.