The Portland Trail Blazers got favorable news Monday when guard Rodney Hood had an MRI examination on his injured left knee that revealed he has just a bone bruise.
No exact timetable was given for Hood's return, but the team said he is listed as questionable for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the Golden State Warriors Tuesday night.
Hood left his team's series-clinching Game 7 win over Denver on Sunday after colliding with Nuggets forward Torrey Craig on a screen in the third quarter. Hood stayed down on the floor, clutching at his left knee as trainers checked on him. Hood was helped into the locker room.
He had six points in 20 minutes as the Trail Blazers beat the Nuggets 100-96 to advance.
"Day-by-day,'' Hood said Sunday after the game. "Hopefully the pain goes down. Hopefully it's feeling better by Tuesday.''
In a Game 6 win at Portland, Hood had 25 points. Nuggets coach Michael Malone referred to him as the "MVP of the series.''
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
