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Streaking Blazers down Iguodala-less Sixers

Mar 20, 2011 - 6:57 AM Portland, OR (Sports Network) - Wesley Matthews scored 28 points, going 6-of-9 from beyond the arc, and Portland pulled away in the final quarter for a 110-101 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Gerald Wallace added 25 points and eight assists for the Trail Blazers, who moved one game clear of New Orleans into sixth place in the Western Conference. LaMarcus Aldridge chipped in 18 points and seven boards, while Nicolas Batum ended with 16 points.

The Blazers, who never trailed, posted their third straight win and seventh in nine games.

Lou Williams came off the bench for 24 points for the Sixers, who were without Andre Iguodala (left knee tendinitis). Thaddeus Young had 19 points and Jodie Meeks 17, but the Sixers had a two-game winning streak broken and finished 2-3 on their road trip. They slipped into a tie with New York for sixth place in the East.

Elton Brand's jumper had the visitors within 92-89 with 9:11 remaining, but Andre Miller's bucket started a back-breaking 9-0 push for the Blazers. A layup from Matthews finished the flurry with 5:12 left. Philadelphia never got closer than the final score.

Matthews set the tone early, hitting all six of his shots in the opening quarter, including five from three-point range. The 17-point quarter and 11 from Aldridge in the period, staked Portland to a 36-27 lead after 12 minutes.

"We're trying to get better with that," Aldridge said of overcoming slow starts. "Guys have more energy, getting up and down, coming out stronger."

Meeks lofted the ball to Andres Nocioni for an alley-oop jam for a 46-45 difference with 4:35 left in the half, but Portland assumed a 62-54 cushion at the break.

The Sixers trimmed what was a 12-point deficit to two following a Meeks reverse layup. But again the Sixers couldn't get over the hump. After Young's jumper missed, Miller hit a layup and Batum nailed a three. Wallace converted a layup and foul shot to give Portland an 83-73 advantage. It was 87-83 moving to the fourth.

"They started out shooting it, and we made a run and got close," Sixers coach Doug Collins said. "We never could get over the top."

Game Notes

Jrue Holiday had 10 assists for the Sixers, who return home to face Atlanta on Wednesday...The Blazers hit the road to battle the Lakers Sunday night.