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Aldridge helps Blazers slip by T'Wolves

Dec 18, 2010 - 7:56 AM Portland, OR (Sports Network) - LaMarcus Aldridge scored 36 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, leading the Portland Trail Blazers to a 107-102 victory over the game Minnesota Timberwolves at the Rose Garden.

Rudy Fernandez added 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting for the Blazers, who snapped a three-game losing streak and beat the Wolves for the 13th consecutive time. Wesley Matthews contributed with 21 points in the victory.

"My teammates found me when I was open, and I made some easy shots tonight," Aldridge said. "More than that, Rudy played great for us...I think tonight was a good effort."

Michael Beasley tallied 33 points to lead the Timberwolves, who have lost four in a row and 10 straight on the road. Kevin Love registered 19 points and 17 boards, while Martell Webster also had 19 points in defeat.

"(Aldridge) got seven or eight dunks, and that kills you right there," Love said. "It build their momentum more than anything when he gets dunks like that."

Portland carried a four-point lead into the fourth quarter and quickly went up by 10 on the heels of an 8-2 run.

Aldridge and Fernandez combined for all eight points -- four apiece -- and Aldridge's basket with 7 1/2 minutes left made it 94-84.

The Timberwolves wouldn't go away, however, as Webster scored five straight points himself to pull Minnesota to within 98-94 with just under four minutes to play.

Portland's defense clamped down from there and held Minnesota without a point for over 1 1/2 minutes, and a pair of free throws from Patrick Mills in addition to a 1-of-2 free throw effort from Dante Cunningham pushed the margin back up to seven with 2 1/2 minutes left.

Beasley kept the Wolves in the game by making a three-pointer with 13 seconds remaining, but Matthews calmly sank a pair of free throws shortly thereafter to seal the win.

Portland held a 25-24 lead after one quarter and increased its advantage to 61-54 at halftime.

Minnesota remained close in the third quarter and pulled to within one before Armon Johnson's three-pointer for the Blazers gave the home team an 82-78 lead heading to the fourth.

Game Notes

Portland improved to 8-3 at home...Minnesota is 0-4 on a six-game road trip and is 1-15 away from home this season...The Timberwolves' last win in this series came on March 25, 2007, and their last victory in Portland occurred on December 7, 2005.