Trail Blazers 109, Suns 71
LaMarcus Aldridge delivered a game-high 23 points as the Portland Trail Blazers trounced the visiting Phoenix Suns 109-71 Friday night.
Gerald Wallace added 17 points and Wesley Matthews had 16 for the Trail Blazers, who gained a measure of revenge after dropping an equally one-sided decision in Phoenix earlier this month. Marcus Camby didn't record a point but pulled down 20 rebounds in the lopsided victory.
Grant Hill scored all of his team-high 12 points in the first half for the Suns, who fell for the eighth time in 10 games.
A tight first quarter was obliterated by a 57-21 run spanning the middle 24 minutes that allowed Portland to put the game away. Aldridge had six points during an 8-0 run to open the second half, and Matthews buried back-to-back 3-pointers just past the midway point of the third as the Trail Blazers opened up a 29-point lead.
Portland led 78-45 entering the fourth, and cruised from there.
Phoenix jumped out to a three-point lead after the opening 12 minutes, but managed just nine points in the second quarter as the Trail Blazers forged a 14-point halftime advantage, 47-33. Aldridge had 17 points to pace Portland.