C Joel Przybilla back with Blazers

03/12/2010 18:48:00

WASHINGTON (AP) -Portland Trail Blazers center Joel Przybilla played Friday night against the Washington Wizards, his first game since rupturing his right patella in a game nearly a year ago.Przybilla entered with 37.9 seconds left in the first quarter - and was greeted by loud cheers from a handful of fans.After getting hurt Dec. 22, 2009, Przybilla re-injured the same tendon in March. His knee had healed by late November, but he then missed four games with the stomach flu.``I feel confident in my knee,´´ the 7-foot-1 Przybilla said before tip-off Friday. ``I just want to get out there. I think I will do all right.´´Blazers coach Nate McMillan said Przybilla probably wouldn´t play more than 15 minutes against Washington.``It´s going to be good to have him back,´´ McMillan said. ``This is going to be about getting his feet wet out there. I´m sure he´s going to be a little nervous and a little cautious about what he´s doing.´´Przybilla averaged 4.1 points and 7.9 rebounds in 30 games last season.Wizards swingman Nick Young was inactive because of a bruised left thigh. But reserve center Yi Jianlian played after missing nine games with a right knee injury, while another backup, Hilton Armstrong, returned after serving a one-game suspension for shoving Miami´s Joel Anthony in a game Monday.