PORTLAND — They had to wait 48 hours, but the Portland Trail Blazers got back to their winning ways Sunday.
Behind a dominating 26-point, 15-rebound performance from LaMarcus Aldridge, the Blazers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 107-93.
Sunday’s win came despite illness and injury.
Aldridge, who had struggled in his previous two games, fought through an illness. There was no foreshadow a slump-busting night.
“I actually felt worse,” the All-Star said. “I didn’t shoot as well in warm-ups but I actually played better. It was one of those games where I made my first couple of shots and played well from there.”
Wesley Matthews, who scored 23 points with six 3’s, isn’t feeling all that great either. He suffered an elbow laceration against Memphis on Friday and still hasn’t gotten used to it.
“It’s weird,” Matthews said. “I don’t feel that great. My elbow is sore.”
Damian Lillard played despite a stomach ailment and Will Barton missed the game with flu-like symptoms.
Despite all that, the Blazers took charge in the second half. Matthews led the way, making the Wolves pay for their zone defense. He scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half.
“I think it messed us up right away,” Matthews said about the Wolves’ zone. “We settled down and we were moving the ball. And they were playing so frantic that it was kind of messing us up. We were able to calm down and pick our spots.”
“I try to (get the ball in his direction),” Nicolas Batum said. “I tried the last three games I think he made like (19) 3’s. He’s hot right now.”
Matthews is the first player in Blazers history to make six or more 3’s in three consecutive games.
The Wolves looked to have more energy in the first quarter, jumping out 26-22. Even Andrew Wiggins, who received a pregame IV while suffering flu-like symptoms, beat the Blazers down court for a lay-up.
Following the game, Minnesota head coach Flip Saunders told reporters that the number one overall pick was in the locker room “throwing up for about 2 minutes straight,” at halftime.
But the Blazers did a better job of keeping the Wolves in front of them in the middle quarters.
Aldridge was the only Blazer in a rhythm early. He had 10 points to lead the Portland in the first quarter.
The Wolves are shorthanded with many of their starters out due to injury. With starting center Nikola Pekovic out as well as back-up Ronny Turiaf, the Wolves had no size to match-up with Aldridge.
“They didn’t have an answer for him,” Lillard said.
Minnesota was paced by a familiar face in former Blazer Mo Williams, who scored 21 points, 11 assists and five rebounds while getting the ball up the court quickly.
Second-year man Allen Crabbe, tied his previous career-high with 9 points to lead the Blazers’ bench. His first shot was a banked 3-pointer as the shot clock expired.
“It’s just like maybe it could be that night,” Crabbe said.
He then knocked a couple more shots to help the Blazers erase Minnesota’s first-half lead.
After missing 21 consecutive 3-pointers, Batum finally made one in the second quarter. Batum said that he was looking for his rhythm in the past few games after returning from injury.
Lillard was quiet for most of the night. But he scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to finish with 17 points and eight assists.
The young Wolves didn’t give up. They scored 32 points in the final period and cut the lead to seven with 5:02 left.
“I would have liked a better defensive fourth quarter,” Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. “It’s hard to be disappointed in a win.”
