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Blazers record 16th straight win over Timberwolves

Feb 15, 2011 - 4:14 AM Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Wesley Matthews led all scorers with 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds, as the Portland Trail Blazers earned a 95- 81 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center.

LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 21 points, six boards and five assists for Portland, which has won five straight. The Trail Blazers have dominated the Timberwolves of late, sweeping the four-game season series and winning 16 straight overall.

Dante Cunningham turned in a solid effort, setting career highs with 18 points and 13 boards in the victory.

"We wanted to take advantage of Dante's speed and energy. We were certainly quicker with him and he played big tonight," Portland head coach Nate McMillan said.

Kevin Love posted his franchise-record 41st consecutive double-double ending with 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have not defeated Portland since a 94-93 triumph on March 25, 2007 in Minneapolis.

Martell Webster came off the bench to register a team-high 17 points for Minnesota, which has dropped three straight and 12 of its last 15 overall.

"They're playing really great basketball. I don't think it had anything to do with taking Kevin Love out of the game," Webster said about the Trail Blazers' strategy. "They're playing winning basketball."

Portland jumped out to a 18-2 start approaching the midway point of the opening quarter and had a 29-14 advantage after 12 minutes. Aldridge led the way with 11 points in the period.

Cunningham made a layup to put the Trail Blazers ahead by 15, 40-25, with 7:01 left in the half. However, Darko Milicic's three-point play and back-to-back triples from Luke Ridnour cut the Minnesota deficit down to six.

Andre Miller's driving layup with 1:32 remaining put the visitors in front 51-40, but Portland had to settle for a 56-48 advantage heading into the locker room.

Ahead by a double-figure margin for the majority of the third, the Blazers closed the quarter on a strong note when Matthews beat the buzzer with a step back jumper to cap a 7-0 run and give Portland a 77-61 lead after three.

The outcome in the fourth was never in question as the Trail Blazers held a double-digit lead throughout.

Game Notes

Minnesota forward Michael Beasley missed his fourth consecutive game with a sprained left ankle...Portland improved to 13-17 on the road this season, while the Timberwolves fell to 9-18 at home...Rudy Fernandez hit 4-of-7 from three-point range and finished with 18 points in a reserve role for the Trail Blazers, who made 44 percent of their shots and 8-of-18 from long distance...Ridnour and Milicic went for 16 and 15 points, respectively, for Minnesota, which made 39 percent from the field and also drained 8-of-18 from beyond the arc.