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HOOPS—Tonight marks the lone Portland appearance of Dwight Howard and his Orlando Magic. How will the Trail Blazers—a team that lost both its centers to season-ending knee injuries—guard the best big man the NBA has seen since Shaq was young and skinny? Um, they won’t. But come out and hope for a minor miracle.
Rose Garden, 1 Center Ct, 7 pm, $18-160

MUSIC—Seattle band Velella Velella has been silent over the last few years, but tonight they return with their live-band dance rock – think RJD2 run through the filter of Pacific Northwest indie rock, or a less restrained Sea and Cake. Dance enthusiasts Guidance Counselor and Rachel Blumberg’s latest venture, Arch Cape, round out the show.
Mississippi Studios, 3939 N Mississippi, 9 PM, $8

Busy week? More like My, What a Frantically Fun Week!

Bang bang, choo-choo train, let me see you shake that thang. Wm. Steven Humphrey is the editor-in-chief of the Portland Mercury and has held the job since 2000. (So don’t get any funny ideas.)