Dec

22

Balanced Scoring Key As Trail Blazers Win 10th Straight, Beat Nuggets 99-96

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Main 

???????????????????????????????????????Portland Trail Blazers forward Martell Webster, left, dribbles against Denver Nuggets forward Linas Kleiza during the first half of their game, played Friday night. Portland defeated Denver 99-96.

The Denver Nuggets, if they expect to realize any semblance of success, will need to learn not to rely solely on forward Carmelo Anthony and guard Allen Iverson for the bulk of their offense.? Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers are distributing the ball around - and the end results have been quite good.? Balanced scoring among 5 Trail Blazers who scored in double-digits was the key as they outlasted the Nuggets 99-96 Friday night at the Rose Garden.

The Trail Blazers won the first quarter 30-22 on guard Jarrett Jack’s 3-pointer; LaMarcus Aldridge gave Portland its largest advantage on a tipped shot that made their lead 40-31.? But Denver managed to keep pace as Iverson’s jumper knotted the score at 50; Iverson’s jumper with 2.8 ticks left in the first half gave the Nuggets a 52-50 lead; he had 21 first-half points.? Denver would extend their lead in the third quarter when Linas Kleiza’s 3-pointer made it 60-53.

The Nuggets led by as many as 8, but Portland came back?with a 7-0 run to begin the 4th quarter.? The Trail Blazers’ Steve Blake would make a 3-pointer that would narrow their lead to 76-74 before Travis Outlaw’s jumper tied the game.? Outlaw would give Portland an 80-78 lead with a jumper; James Jones followed with a 3-pointer then added a jumper to put the Blazers up 85-78.

After Portland’s Brandon Roy blocked a shot attempt by Anthony, Outlaw made a pair of free throws to give the Trail Blazers a 97-94 lead; Denver’s Iverson would make a layup that narrowed the Blazers’ lead to one with 6.9 seconds left in the game.? Portland’s Jack would make a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 3 before the Nuggets’ Kleiza would attempt a 3-pointer - which was blocked by Outlaw.?

Portland, with 5 players in double-digits, was led by Martell Webster with 19 points, while Roy and Aldridge scored 18 each; Jones added 14.? Denver was led by Iverson and Anthony with 34 points apiece - 69% of the team’s offense tonight; Kleiza added 11 in a losing effort.? Portland (15-12) hope to extend their streak to 11 as they?continue their homestand and host the Seattle SuperSonics Tuesday night, while Denver (15-11) flies south to Sacramento to take on the Kings?Sunday.



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