Trail Blazers 97, Hawks 77
TRAIL BLAZERS 97, HAWKS 77: Nicolas Batum scored 22 points, LaMarcus Aldridge returned from injury with 19 points and 10 rebounds and Portland snapped a four-game home losing skid with a rare win over Atlanta.
Raymond Felton finished with 14 points and eight assists and Wesley Matthews added 13 points in the win. The Blazers (17-15) dominated the boards, outrebounding Atlanta 50-27.
Josh Smith finished just shy of a triple-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists to carry the Hawks (19-12), who had won seven straight in the series. Willie Green had 17 points in 23 minutes off the bench.
The Blazers pushed the lead out to 40-29 minutes into the second quarter with an 8-1 run. Kurt Thomas made a jumper, Nolan Smith hit a 3-pointer and Matthews added a long jumper during the spurt.
Felton beat the halftime buzzer with a jumper as Portland took a 52-37 lead. Batum had 14 points at the break.
Marvin Williams’ 3-pointer pulled the Hawks within 52-40 early in the third, but that’s as close as they would get. Aldridge had four points and Felton nailed a 3 as the Blazers went back ahead 61-42 minutes later.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Aldridge missed the past two games with a sprained ankle. … Hawks point guard Jeff Teague missed nine of 10 shots and finished with five points. … Smith has recorded double-doubles in five straight games. … Batum added eight rebounds in the start.