Blazers hand Wolves 12th straight loss
November 22, 2009
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)—Martell Webster(notes) took full advantage of his return to thePortland Trail Blazers’ starting lineup.
Webster had a season-high 21 points and 13 rebounds and keyed a thirdquarter rally with three consecutive 3-pointers in the Trail Blazers’ 106-78victory over the free-falling Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.
“You need a guy who can keep that defense honest,” Portland coach NateMcMillan said. “If they don’t, (Webster) has the ability to hurt them with the3-point ball.”
Portland Trail Blazers forward… AP – Nov 21, 10:51 pm EST Minnesota Timberwolves forward… AP – Nov 21, 10:45 pm EST
Minnesota Timberwolves guard J… AP – Nov 21, 10:41 pm EST YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index = 2; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_lazy_images = [http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091122/capt.4d8d91b8be6746e6ac09e195d68465a2.timberwolves_trail_blazers_basketball_ordr102.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=301&hc=334&q=70&sig=e0l57AAorzn.Q_Q3iXvfmg--,http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091122/capt.1875a2a6717740a9859ddd258147d02b.timberwolves_trail_blazers_basketball_ordr101.jpg?x=180&y=200&xc=1&yc=1&wc=233&hc=259&q=70&sig=CcjA0MHk9N7uaqB0zA7DeA--]; YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(window,load,YAHOO.Sports.articleLazyLoadCarousel.init); 1 of 3 Min-Por Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init();
Brandon Roy(notes) added 18 points for Portland, which handed the Timberwolvestheir 12th straight loss. The Wolves haven’t won since beating winless NewJersey in the opener.
Greg Oden(notes) had 16 points, and Steve Blake(notes) had 14 points and nine assists forthe Blazers, winners of 11 straight against Minnesota.
Portland rallied after falling behind early in the second half. Roy scored11 points, and the Blazers went on a 16-0 run to open up the fourth. The Wolvesmanaged just three field goals in the final quarter.
Al Jefferson(notes) led the Wolves with 20 points and 10 rebounds in his secondgame back after the death of his grandmother. Oleksiy Pecherov(notes) had 12 points and10 rebounds.
“We’re not secure as a team, we’re not together as a team, and we don’thave enough experience as a team,” Minnesota coach Kurt Rambis said. “When weget in these tough situations, we don’t know what to do.”
One night after a 108-94 loss to Golden State, McMillan ditched thethree-guard lineup he been used for the past nine games, starting Webster overAndre Miller(notes).
“As a team we started playing better defense,” Blake said. “Guys startedmaking shots, Martell was playing great, had a great all-around game. It was atotal team effort.”
The Blazers led 23-14 after the first quarter but made just six of 20 fieldgoals in the second. The Wolves started the quarter with a 6-0 run and got to37-34 on a jumper from Damien Wilkins(notes). They trailed 40-37 at halftime.
The Wolves briefly led, going up 45-44 on a strong move inside by RyanHollins(notes). Roy, who was 3-of-10 shooting in the first half, made all five of hisshots in the third and the Blazers began to pull away.
“We played well up to the third quarter, with about five minutes to go,”Minnesota’s Ryan Gomes(notes) said. “After that they just ran off with it.”
The Wolves are in the midst of their longest losing streak since they lost13 in a row from Nov. 29 to Dec. 23. They have lost eight in a row by more than10 points.
Joel Przybilla(notes) had a season-high 14 points and 11 rebounds, and LaMarcusAldridge(notes) added 10 points for the Blazers, who play their next three games athome.
NOTES: The Blazers are 32-10 at home against Minnesota. … The Wolves lostto Portland for the third time this season. Each of first two losses was by 23points. … Minnesota made all 18 of its free-throw attempts.
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