PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland Trail Blazers forward Ruben Patterson has a broken left eye socket, a result of being punched by teammate Zach Randolph last week.

	Patterson

Patterson did not accompany the team to Houston for Tuesday night's game and is not expected to join the Blazers during their three-game trip, which also includes stops in San Antonio and Memphis.

It was not immediately clear if Patterson would be placed on the injured list, or if he would be available for Sunday's home game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Patterson was injured last Wednesday when he and rookie Qyntel Woods began arguing, and Randolph stepped in.

The Blazers suspended Randolph for two games and fined the second-year player $100,000. He has already served both games of the suspension.

Patterson has been ineffective in the three games since the fight, and Portland has lost two of the three games. The Blazers lead Minnesota by .003 percentage points for fourth place in the Western Conference.

Scottie Pippen, who has been on the injured list while recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, said Monday at practice that he is close to returning, which would ease the absence of Patterson.

"I hoped I could come back (Sunday), but that didn't happen," Pippen said. "I'm hoping every day that it feels better.

"I'm trying to pick up a little bit in practice. Right now I've still got some soreness. As soon as I can get there, where I can tolerate it enough to go out and get some minutes on it, I'll be ready."