Trail Blazers 95, Timberwolves 81
Wesley Matthews scored 23 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 21 as the Portland Trail Blazers won their fifth straight game with a 95-81 victory over the host Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.
Dante Cunningham added 18 points and 13 rebounds for Portland (31-24), which built a large first-quarter lead while defeating Minnesota (13-42) for the 16th consecutive time.
Timberwolves star Kevin Love recorded his 41st consecutive double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds but it wasn’t easy. Love didn’t get his 10th point until 5:30 remained and his 10th rebound came with 4:54 to play.
Rudy Fernandez also scored 18 points for Portland.
Martell Webster led Minnesota with 17 points. Luke Ridnour scored 16 points and Darko Milicic added 15.
Matthews hit back-to-back 3-pointers as part of eight points during a 14-0 run that gave Portland an 18-2 lead with 6:22 left in the first quarter.
Portland’s lead reached a game-high 17 in the opening minute of the second quarter on Fernandez’s basket.
Aldridge scored 17 of his 21 points in the first half.