Minnesota Timberwolves' Craig Smith, right, grabs the ball as Portland Trail Blazers' Brandon Roy, left, drives in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Story Published:
Jan 2, 2008 at 8:28 PM PST
Story Updated:
Jan 2, 2008 at 9:06 PM PST
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The Portland Trail Blazers found a cure to what ails them on the road - a trip to Minnesota.
After their 13-game winning streak was snapped at Utah, Brandon Roy scored 24 points to help the young Blazers rebound with a 90-79 victory over the woeful Timberwolves on Wednesday night.
Portland restored its dominance in Rip City in December, going 10-0 at the Rose Garden to improve to 15-3 at home this season.
But coach Nate McMillan said he was curious to see how his group would handle going on the road. The Blazers entered the night just 3-10 away from home, including a 111-101 loss to the Jazz that broke the league's longest winning streak of the season.
A game in frigid Minneapolis is a nice way to ease into a month in which nine of their first 11 games are on the road.
Al Jefferson had 29 points and 16 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who are a league-worst 4-27 and off to the worst start in a franchise history that has known plenty of losing.
The simple reason for Minnesota's struggles this season? Jefferson has become a lone wolf. Poor shooting from the perimeter has allowed opposing defenses to collapse on Jefferson in the paint, and Wednesday night was no different as the Timberwolves shot a season-low 35 percent from the field.
Ryan Gomes had 10 points and 10 rebounds, but Roy got much more help from his supporting cast on a night when he was 8-for-21 from the floor.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 17 points and 11 rebounds coming off a career-high 36-point night and James Jones scored 13 of his 18 points in the second quarter to help Portland take control early.
The sweet-shooting swingman made all five of his shots in the second quarter - with only one coming with a Wolves defender within 3 feet of him - to help the Blazers take a 10-point lead into halftime.
If the Wolves are looking to find any solace, they need only gaze across the court. They are following a similar rebuilding path that Portland has taken, and the Blazers' moves are already starting to pay off.
While the Wolves jettisoned malcontents Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, Troy Hudson and Mike James this offseason, Portland got rid of Zach Randolph in favor of Channing Frye and paid plenty of money to buy out Steve Francis.
Portland won only 21 games in 2005-06 and 32 last season, which ended with the Blazers getting the top pick in the draft and taking Greg Oden.
While Oden will miss the season after having knee surgery, the Blazers have used smart drafting and savvy trades to assemble a gifted young nucleus.
It's a blueprint the Wolves hope to follow. They got two No. 1 picks in the Garnett trade and putting themselves in position for that No. 1 pick next year.
Notes: The start of the game was delayed 35 minutes because of a gap in the floor at midcourt and about 10 feet in on the right wing on one side. ... Jones topped 12 points for the fifth time in six games. ... Wolves coach Randy Wittman said Foye will be evaluated again on Monday.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
