Trail Blazers lose center

PORTLAND – Trail Blazers center Joel Przybilla had surgery Thursday to repair his ruptured right patella tendon.

Przybilla is expected to miss the rest of the season after hurting his leg during the first quarter of Portland’s 85-81 victory at Dallas on Tuesday.

Przybilla averaged 7.9 rebounds in 30 games.

The Blazers have been beset by so many injuries that the NBA granted the team an exemption to carry 16 players on its roster.