Jan 10, 2008

Warriors fall at Portland

Win is 12th straight at home for Trailblazers

By ANNE M. PETERSON / Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. - Steve Blake had a season-high 24 points before leaving the game with a left calf injury and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Golden State Warriors 109-91 Wednesday night.

The Trail Blazers have won 17 of their past 18 games after opening the season 5-12. Portland has won 12 straight games at home, and is 17-3 overall at the Rose Garden. Since Portland's 13-game winning streak was snapped Dec. 31 at Utah, the team has won four straight.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 19 points for the Blazers, who led by as many as 25 points. Joel Przybilla had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Golden State was led by Matt Barnes with 14 points. Baron Davis, the team's top scorer, had an off night with four points.

The Warriors, coming off a dramatic 130-121 overtime win over San Antonio on Monday, have lost three of their past four.

Portland saw the return of Brandon Roy, who sat out most of Saturday night's 103-89 victory over the Jazz because of a bruised tailbone. The guard, last season's Rookie of the Year, was a game-time decision but started.

The Trail Blazers jumped quickly ahead. Blake's 3-pointer put them up 15-4. A short while later, another 3-pointer from him made it 22-6.

The Blazers took their biggest lead of the first half when Martell Webster's 3 made it 27-10.

The Warriors narrowed the gap in the second quarter when Stephen Jackson's 3 pulled Golden State to 40-33.

It didn't last long. The Blazers pulled back into a commanding lead, going up 50-33 with Joel Przybilla's turnaround hook. They led 56-41 at the half.

Portland got a scare in the second quarter when guard Roy appeared to injure his right knee. He crumpled to the court after he collided with Golden State's Al Harrington and had to be helped off by a pair of Portland trainers.

But Roy returned to the game and started the second half, drawing cheers from the crowd at the Rose Garden.

Roy's pull-up jumper put Portland ahead 78-53.

In the second half, Blake was knocked to the court when Monta Ellis ran into him.

Blake, who was clutching his left calf, had to be helped from the court. The team said he had a contusion and he did not return.

Portland took its biggest lead when James Jones' layup made it 98-71.

Notes: The Warriors signed guard CJ Watson to a 10-day contract the day before. Watson was third-best scorer in the Developmental League this season, averaging 26.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. ... Golden State needs a backup for Davis, who's playing nearly 40 minutes per game. ... Troy Hudson, the veteran signed for the job last summer, has played in just nine games because of a lingering hip injury.