(AP) -- A lengthy slide appeared possible for the Portland Trail Blazers without LaMarcus Aldridge, but the power forward's dramatic return has them feeling confident heading out on the road.

Aldridge will play his second game since overriding the team's announcement that he'd be out for an extended period when Portland tries to deal the Brooklyn Nets a seventh straight home defeat Monday night.

After being diagnosed with a radial collateral ligament tear in his left thumb, Aldridge seemed resigned to undergoing surgery, and Blazers released a statement Thursday that said he'd be sidelined for at least six weeks.