• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Aldridge, Blazers handle Pistons

Nov 10, 2010 - 7:23 AM Portland, OR (Sports Network) - LaMarcus Aldridge finished with a game-high 19 points and 17 rebounds and Nicolas Batum supplied 17 points as the Portland Trail Blazers easily topped the Detroit Pistons, 100-78, at the Rose Garden.

Rudy Fernandez added 13 points in a reserve role and Brandon Roy finished with 11 points in the win for Portland, which has won two straight at home.

"It was a big win for us," Roy said. "We did a good job of stepping up. We played a little more aggressively."

Rodney Stuckey finished with 17 points and Austin Daye added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Pistons, who had won two straight since starting the season 0-5.

Portland shot 70 percent from the field in the first quarter to take a 36-25 advantage after 12 minutes of play.

Charlie Villanueva added eight points in the second as the Pistons trimmed the Blazers' lead to 53-45 heading to the locker room. Portland shot 28.6 percent from the field in the quarter and committed six costly turnovers to allow Detroit to inch closer.

The Blazers started the third on a 6-0 run, highlighted by a Batum driving dunk and jumper, to extend the lead to 14. Marcus Camby's three-point play put the advantage at 69-52 with 5:25 remaining.

"We didn't start off the right way in the third period," Pistons head coach John Kuester said. "You have to continually realize that when you're on the road you're mental toughness has to be paramount."

The visitors made the game manageable in the final minutes of the third, outscoring Portland 11-5 down the stretch and were trailing 74-63 heading into the final stanza.

Dante Cunningham added 10 points in the fourth for Portland, and the Blazers extended their lead to as many as 25 in the final 12 minutes.

Game Notes

Portland has won the last four meetings and have not lost at home to the Pistons since March 2007...Aldridge was one rebound shy of his career high...Portland shot 87.5 percent from the free throw line...Camby finished with seven points and eight rebounds for the Blazers...Villanueva added eight points and five rebounds for Detroit...Portland scored 23 points off 19 Detroit turnovers.