Strong Start, Strong Finish Pushes Portland Past Orlando 106-99

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap

Now don’t try this at home, but on Monday night the Portland Trail Blazers showed that if you have a strong beginning and ending, you can get away with a weak spot in the middle (sounds like the plot of too many Hollywood movies!) Well at least they were able to pull the feat off against the Orlando Magic as the Blazers got a 106-99 victory at the Amway Arena in Orlando. Brandon Roy led the attack for Portland as they had five players in double figures. It was the first road win for the Blazers in the young NBA campaign.

Portland exploded for 36 points in the first quarter, to take a 36-28 advantage at the end of the period. Every one of those points would prove to be important as the Trail Blazers went ice cold in the second quarter, their lead down to a single point at the half as they were on top 55-54. The team from the Great Northwest, was still mired in a shooting funk in the third quarter, but the Magic were not much better. Heading into the final 12 minutes of regulation, Orlando had the razor thin lead 73-72. Portland started off the fourth on a 11-0 run and took a 83-73 lead, and never looked back.

Brandon Roy scored 27 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, in the Portland victory. Steve Blake had 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, Travis Outlaw came in from the bench and contributed 20 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal. LaMarcus Aldridge recorded a double-double, 16 points, 11 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal, Rudy Fernandez dropped 16 points, 3 steals, 3 assists, 1 rebound, 1 block.

Hedo Turkoglu led all scorers as the Orlando forward put in 35 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists. Dwight Howard registered a double-double, and just missed his first visit to the “20-20 Club” this season, 29 points, 19 boards, 1 block, 1 steal. Keith Bogans had 12 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, Jameer Nelson scored 10 points, 7 assists. Both teams now have identical records of 4-3.

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