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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Portland didn't wait for the Charlotte
Hornets to give up their 12-game home winning streak. Instead, the
Trail Blazers went in and took it away with a dominating fourth
quarter.
|  | | Portland's Stacey Augmon, right, can't clear a hurdle -- Charlotte's Baron Davis -- on his way to the basket in the first period. |
Portland used its usual stellar defense and dominated the boards
Thursday night to pick up its 10th straight victory, 83-70 over the
Hornets.
The Trail Blazers earned a season sweep over the Hornets for the
second consecutive year.
"We came in knowing they had a long winning streak here, and no
one would have lost any sleep if we had lost to them," said
Portland guard Greg Anthony.
"But we went out and grabbed the game in the fourth quarter,
and by doing so, we showed we have a lot of pride and we want to
be the best."
With 27 victories, Portland is the best team in the NBA -- at
least in the win column.
"We feel pretty good right now, like we can make a run at it
this year," said Steve Smith, who scored nine of his 16 points in
the deciding fourth quarter.
"We are playing defense, sharing the ball, enjoying the game
and really playing with consistency."
The Hornets, who rallied from a 17-point deficit in the first
quarter and led by nine late in the third, were booed as they left
the floor. They were held to a season-low 12 fourth-quarter points
and allowed Portland to grab a season-high 55 rebounds
compared to Charlotte's 40.
"They did a great job on the boards and we're not a team that
usually gets outrebounded," said P.J. Brown, who was held to a
season-low two rebounds.
"We need to be nasty and dirty under the basket and we didn't
do that tonight."
The Trail Blazers tied it at the end of the third period with a
9-0 run. Damon Stoudamire, who finished with 16, scored seven
straight in the run.
Portland continued its run in the fourth quarter, using a 12-4
run to pull away.
Trailing 66-65 with 6:54 to play, Greg Anthony started
Portland's spurt with a jumper. Charlotte missed its shots on its
next two trips down the floor and the Trail Blazers got consecutive
3-pointers from Anthony and Smith to make it 74-66.
After Elden Campbell cut it to 74-68 on a layup, Arvydas Sabonis
hit two free throws and Smith scored four straight points to push
it to 79-68 with 1:58 to play.
Charlotte only scored once more, on a long jumper from Derrick
Coleman with 1:47 left.
"In the third quarter, we went up by nine and they fought back.
That was the ballgame," Charlotte coach Paul Silas said.
Campbell led Charlotte with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Coleman
had an awful night, scoring four points on 2-for-8 shooting and
drawing loud boos after every miss.
The game was a stark contrast from the first meeting, an 89-67
Portland rout on Jan. 1 that was Charlotte's worst loss of the
season. But Campbell and his backup, rookie Jamaal Magloire, both
missed that game because of injuries.
The two were back on the court this time, but neither team was
at full strength.
Jamal Mashburn, Charlotte's leading scorer, missed his fourth
consecutive game with a bruised bone in his knee and Portland
forward Scottie Pippen missed his second straight with tendinitis
in his right elbow.
"If you're shorthanded, you have to play a perfect game to beat
this team," Silas said. "We didn't play a perfect game and
lost."
Game notes
Charlotte honored former team captain Bobby Phills before
the game. Phills was killed in a car accident last Jan. 12. ... The
game grew tense in the third quarter when Baron Davis and Bonzi
Wells were hit with double technicals for arguing. Rasheed Wallace
also was called for one when he tossed the ball high into the air
after being called for an offensive foul. ... Hornets co-owner Ray
Wooldridge said he spent the day negotiating with city officials
for a new arena and that a deal could come "within days." Any
agreement would then be presented to the City Council, which has
said it wants a voter's referendum to decide the issue.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Portland Clubhouse
Charlotte Clubhouse
Hughes: Blazers' hangover a distant memory
Anniversary of husband's death bittersweet for Kendall Phills
RECAPS
Atlanta 107
Golden State 96
Portland 83
Charlotte 70
Orlando 101
New Jersey 87
Houston 76
New York 75
Milwaukee 102
Dallas 94
Phoenix 93
Indiana 85
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Mike Dunleavy Official Site
Baron Davis Official Site
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