Trail Blazers 94, Raptors 84
LaMarcus Aldridge erupted for a season-high 33 points and a career-best 23 rebounds as the Portland Trail Blazers cruised past host Toronto 94-84 Friday, sending the Raptors to their seventh straight loss.
Aldridge enjoyed one of the best games of his career, grabbing nine of the Blazers' 15 offensive boards as Portland improved to 2-3 on its marathon six-game road trip, which concludes Saturday in Detroit.
James Johnson led the way with a career-high 23 points for the Raptors, who fell to 0-5 without scoring leader Andrea Bargnani (strained calf).
After falling behind by as many as 20 in a rough first half, Toronto used a 14-4 run - fueled by 12 points from DeMar DeRozan - to trim the deficit to six. The Blazers answered with an 11-2 stretch later in the third, and Raymond Felton buried a 3-pointer with 3:04 remaining to made it a 67-52 game.
Portland led 71-60 entering the fourth, and the Raptors didn't get closer than eight points the rest of the way.
Aldridge was sensational in the opening 24 minutes, pouring in 23 points while adding 11 boards despite missing some time with a strained lower back. His outburst lifted the Trail Blazers to a 47-32 halftime lead that actually flattered the Raptors, who shot just 13 for 39 from the field.