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Trail Blazers blow out shorthanded Spurs by 40

Feb 22, 2012 - 6:23 AM Portland, OR (Sports Network) - Seven different Trail Blazers scored in double figures, led by 21 from LaMarcus Aldridge, as Portland embarrassed San Antonio 137-97 at Rose Garden on Tuesday.

Jamal Crawford netted 20 points and handed out eight assists, while Gerald Wallace and Nicolas Batum each scored 19 points for Portland, which has won two of its last three.

The Spurs were without their "Big Three" as Tim Duncan and Tony Parker both received the night off for rest and Manu Ginobili is nursing a strained oblique.

"They've been going and going and going and if you don't do it now I think you're asking for trouble," Popovich said about resting Duncan and Parker.

Kawhi Leonard's 24-point, 10-rebound performance served as the lone bright spot for San Antonio, which saw its 11-game win streak come to an end.

Trailing 20-19 after a Richard Jefferson three-pointer, Portland scored the next 22 points, capped by a Raymond Felton three as the first quarter closed with the Trail Blazers holding a 41-23 advantage.

Portland would extend its lead, taking a 66-43 advantage after Crawford, who finished the half with 18 points, drilled a triple to cap a 7-0 spurt heading into the locker room.

The margin would remain over 20 for the duration of the third, reaching as high as 40 on a Wesley Matthews three-pointer to give Portland a 101-61 advantage with under a minute to go in quarter.

The lead was 48 at its highest point after Elliot Williams scored six straight to make it 134-86 with 3:11 showing, allowing Portland to cruise to the victory.

"We knew this was a win we wanted to get before the break," said Portland guard Raymond Felton. "You don't want to go into the break with two losses like that, so it was a good thing to get this win tonight."

Game Notes

The Spurs have now lost seven straight at the Rose Garden...San Antonio will visit Denver on Thursday to finish its nine-game rodeo road trip, while Portland has off until after the All-Star break when they take on Denver on Feb. 29.