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Friday, Apr. 6 10:30pm ET
Kemp distraction aside, Blazers storm Warriors

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – The Portland Trail Blazers certainly didn't need Shawn Kemp for this victory.

Arvydas Sabonis
Trail Blazers center Arvydas Sabonis, right, shoots over Adonal Foyle in the first quarter.
Arvydas Sabonis scored a season-high 32 points and Damon Stoudamire had Portland's first triple-double in more than six years as the Trail Blazers beat the Golden State Warriors 122-91 Friday night.

Facing a Golden State team in freefall from a season-long injury epidemic, Portland had no problem snapping its three-game losing streak -- even without Kemp. The former All-Star forward has volunteered for drug treatment and will miss the rest of the season.

"Shawn's problems don't have anything to do with basketball, so I don't think it's any motivation for us," Stoudamire said. "We love Shawn, and we're with him all the way. We just want him to handle his business and don't even worry about the basketball part of it."

Sabonis, who played only 24 minutes, fell one point short of his career high by hitting 11 of 12 shots from all over the court. His remarkable proficiency was just one of several offensive superlatives from the Blazers.

Stoudamire had 15 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for the Blazers' first triple-double since Rod Strickland did it on Feb. 25, 1995. It was Stoudamire's first triple-double since 1997, when he was in Toronto, and the fourth of his career.

But Stoudamire was more concerned with the victory, which came after a lengthy team meeting on Thursday. Coach Mike Dunleavy said the Blazers talked about finishing strong in the season's final eight games to begin a playoff push for the championship many thought they were favorites to win this season.

"We played three close games this week, and we haven't been making shots," Dunleavy said. "We needed to get some guys going on a roll."

Portland (48-28), which moved 1 1/2 games behind Dallas and Utah for fourth place in the Western Conference, also got 21 points on 7-for-8 shooting -- including five 3-pointers -- from Steve Smith.

The Blazers shot 60 percent from the field as every player on their roster scored -- even Antonio Harvey, who went 4-for-5 in his first action since January. He was activated to fill Kemp's roster spot earlier Friday.

The Blazers, who clinched their 19th consecutive playoff berth Thursday when Seattle lost at Houston, scored 38 points in the first quarter. They led by 31 points at halftime and by 41 less than four minutes into the third quarter.

Portland led 102-58 entering the fourth, but the Warriors made a lengthy run to cut the final margin. Rookie Chris Porter was 5-for-20 from the field, and Adonal Foyle was 4-for-13.

"Their defense looks good when we have guys that can't shoot," Golden State coach Dave Cowens said. "They contested a lot of shots, but they have so much comfort knowing that they can outscore you."

The loss was Golden State's sixth straight, 17th in 18 games, and 25th in 27 since the All-Star break. Portland beat Golden State for the seventh straight time.

Paul McPherson scored 15 of his career-high 22 points in the fourth quarter for Golden State. Vonteego Cummings had 18 points, while Antawn Jamison -- the NBA's ninth-leading scorer -- had just 13 points on 4-for-15 shooting.

Jamison's depression over the Warriors' disastrous season continues to deepen. Though he reiterated his desire to remain in Golden State for next season, his comments lately have taken on a more desperate tone.

"Take it how you want it. I can't do this anymore. I can't be associated with a losing team," Jamison said. "(The Blazers) have a team. We don't have a team. We've got five guys out there, but in all honesty, we don't have a team at all.

"We don't have chemistry (or) cohesion. We don't have guys even practicing together at all, so that's not a team."

The Blazers couldn't let even this blowout go by without a tiny bit of controversy. Stacey Augmon was ejected with 11:18 to play for a flagrant foul on Adam Keefe.

Game notes
Portland guard Bonzi Wells twisted his left knee late in the second quarter and didn't return. ... Scottie Pippen scored one point on 0-for-5 shooting in 27 minutes. ... Before the game, Golden State signed point guard Chris Garner, who hadn't played in the NBA in three years. He played 17 minutes and scored two points. ... Garner was needed because Mookie Blaylock was declared out for the season. The absence of Blaylock, who needs surgery on a finger ligament, left Cummings as the only point guard on Golden State's roster.

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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Portland Clubhouse

Golden State Clubhouse

Blazers' Kemp to undergo rehab for cocaine abuse


RECAPS
Philadelphia 96
Cleveland 88

LA Lakers 100
Boston 96

Miami 81
Charlotte 76

Toronto 108
Orlando 100

Indiana 100
Chicago 93

Minnesota 101
Phoenix 88

Sacramento 118
Vancouver 90

Portland 122
Golden State 91

LA Clippers 113
Milwaukee 110


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