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Portland, Ore. • After missing 23 games because of a broken right hand, Trail Blazers center Robin Lopez makes his return to his team's starting lineup tonight. "It's good to have him back," Blazers coach Terry Stotts said about 90 minutes before Tuesday night's tipoff at Moda Center. "We've missed him. We've tried to hold down the fort while he's been gone, but he's a big part of our success last year and this year." Recently, the Portland fort has been in disarray. The Trail Blazers are 2-8 over their last 10 games. Their defensive numbers have slipped (Portland's allowing about four points more per 100 possessions in this 10-game stretch than it has on the season). And all-star snub Damian Lillard's shooting just 24.1 percent from three in that stretch. Lopez's returns should help address some of those issues. With the 7-footer on the floor, the Blazers have allowed nearly eight fewer points per 100 possessions than with Lopez off the court. "What Robin brings is not only a defensive presence," Stotts said. "I think that's pretty obvious. But I think our offense has suffered as well. His offensive rebounding is a big part of what we do and his screening, his rolling to the basket. He's a vital part of what we do on both ends of the court." It's just one more obstacle for Quin Snyder and the Jazz as the take on a Portland team that swept Utah last year. "We have no illusions about how hard this game is," said Snyder, who added he hopes his team is no longer buzzing from its upset win over Golden State on Friday. There could be some restrictions on Lopez as he makes his return from injury. "He's really only had one legitimate practice, and that was yesterday, where he had contact," Stotts said. "He's been working on his conditioning and shooting, but yesterday wa the first and only contact he had. … I don't know if he'll play his normal minutes, but I think he'll play significant minutes." — Aaron Falk