Trail Blazers 102, Raptors 96
LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 37 points and Rudy Fernandez scored 23 in the first half as the visiting Portland Trail Blazers opened a three-game road trip Friday with a 102-96 victory over the Toronto Raptors.
Andre Miller had 13 points, eight assists and a couple of clutch baskets for the Trail Blazers, who have won nine of 13 and will travel to Detroit and Minnesota before returning home for five games wrapped around the All-Star break.
Andrea Bargnani scored 29 points and former Blazer Jerryd Bayless sparked a second-half comeback with 18 points, but the Raptors lost for the 17th time in 18 games. Toronto played without power forward Amir Johnson, who sprained an ankle against San Antonio on Wednesday. Ed Davis had six points and 13 rebounds in his place.
Portland blew a 15-point lead but rallied from a seven-point deficit with 6 ½ minutes to play. Aldridge scored 10 points down the stretch and Miller converted a three-point play and a jumper for a six-point lead with under two minutes left.
Bargnani scored 10 points and DeMar DeRozan five as the Raptors closed the third on an 11-2 run to pull within 72-70 entering the fourth. Bayless, a 29 percent 3-point shooter, then hit four 3-pointers that provided Toronto an 85-78 lead.