Slam Dunk Central

Both the Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat shot over 50% from the field (Portland shot 50.6%, Miami 51.2%), and they were almost identical on other stats as well. Besides Portland’s Brandon Roy, Miami’s free throw shooting let the team down yet again (Miami shot 13-for-24 from the charity stripe). Those factors enabled the Trail Blazers to beat the Heat 112-106 at the Rose Garden Thursday.Portland began the third period with a 60-44 lead, but Miami would go on a 10-3 run to pull to within 9. Miami coach Pat Riley, mindful of center Shaquille O’Neal being in foul trouble, went for a smaller lineup, not using reserve C Alonzo Mourning. It paid dividends as the Heat scored 6 straight points to pull to 67-60. Dorell Wright got Miami to within 75-71 just before the end of the quarter. Miami guard Dwyane Wade scored consecutive baskets to pull Miami to within 88-87, but reserve Steve Blake drained a 3-pointer for Portland then LaMarcus Aldridge made a jumper.

Roy’s layup put Portland ahead 97-90 with 2:31 left in the game. Forward Travis Outlaw would then dunk on Miami’s Daequan Cook and get fouled for a 3-point play, allowing the Blazers to hold a 10-point lead with 1:56 remaining. They would cling to that lead for the balance of the game. Portland had 5 players in double-figures, led by Roy with 25 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. Outlaw contributed 20 from off the bench, while Aldridge and James Jones would score 14 each.

Miami’s leading scorer was Wade with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists; Cook added 20 while Ricky Davis chipped in with 18. O’Neal, while being in foul trouble for most of the game, scored only 8 points and grabbed 10 boards in 21 minutes of floor time. Portland (7-12) stays home to host the Milwaukee Bucks Sunday, while Miami (4-14) travels to Oakland to take on the resurgent Golden State Warriors Friday night.

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