Saturday, March 23, 2013
Sports News


Matthews has 28 points, Blazers top Hawks 104-93

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[March 23, 2013]  ATLANTA, Ga. (AP) -- Wesley Matthews scored 28 points to lead three Trail Blazers with at least 20 points and Portland beat the Atlanta Hawks 104-93 Friday night for their second road win in as many nights.

Damian Lillard scored 22 points and LaMarcus Aldridge had 20 points and 13 rebounds, giving him at least 20 points in seven straight games. Aldridge had 28 points in the Blazers' 99-89 win at Chicago on Thursday night.

The Hawks led by 11 points in the third quarter before Matthews rallied the Trail Blazers.

The Hawks, fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, completed a disappointing 1-2 homestand. Josh Smith led Atlanta with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Jeff Teague scored 21 points and Al Horford added 15 points with 11 rebounds.

The Blazers made 10 of 18 3-pointers, including five of eight by Matthews and four of five by Lillard.

J.J. Hickson also posted a double-double for Portland with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Portland led 52-51 early in the third quarter before Smith's basket on a pass from Horford started a 15-3 run for the Hawks. Smith had two jams -- each set up by Teague -- in the run, which left the Hawks leading 66-55. Blazers coach Terry Stotts called two timeouts during the run.

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The Blazers' only points during Atlanta's run came on a 3-pointer by Matthews. The third-year guard from Marquette added a jumper and two more 3s in a stretch of 11 straight points for Portland, cutting the Hawks' lead to 76-73 at the end of the third period.

Portland went up 82-78 with a 9-0 run early in the final period. The Hawks came no closer than two points the rest of the way.

A steal and basket by Teague cut the Blazers' lead to 90-88. Portland responded with eight unanswered points, including a 3-pointer by Lillard, to stretch its lead to 98-88.

Kyle Korver's 3-pointer midway through the third quarter gave him at least one 3 in 62 consecutive games, tied with Peja Stojakovic (2008) for the fifth-longest streak in NBA history. It was his only 3-pointer of the game.

NOTES: Stotts was Atlanta's coach from 2002-04. ... The Blazers ended a streak of four straight losses in Atlanta. Portland's last win in Atlanta was on Jan. 21, 2008. ... Horford posted his 40th double-double. ... Portland had a 48-41 advantage in rebounds.

[Associated Press; By CHARLES ODUM]

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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