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Aldridge helps Blazers thump Cavs

Jan 9, 2012 - 6:49 AM Portland, OR (Sports Network) - LaMarcus Aldridge scored 28 points, grabbed eight rebounds and came up with four steals, leading the Trail Blazers to a 98-78 victory over the turnover-prone Cavaliers.

Wesley Matthews added 24 points for Portland, which bounced back from a 102-77 thumping at the hands of the Suns on Friday by netting 28 points on 24 Cleveland turnovers.

Kyrie Irving had 21 points to pace the Cavs, who fell to 1-2 on their seven- game road trip.

"We have to limit our mistakes. It was a tough game," Irving said.

Portland held a slim 18-17 lead at the end of the first quarter. Cleveland went ahead, 32-30, on an Anderson Varejao layup late in the second, but the Blazers scored 12 of the final 15 points over the last four minutes.

Aldridge scored eight points during a 12-0 run late in the third, which ended with Portland holding a 69-57 advantage.

An Aldridge turnaround ignited an eight-point spurt midway through the fourth, with Matthews' two free throws providing a healthy 89-65 lead that was never challenged down the stretch.

"Once we got our second wind in the second half we started playing better basketball...and were able to break this game open," Blazers head coach Nate McMillan said.

Game Notes

Portland improved to 5-0 at home...Gerald Wallace donated 16 points for Portland, which shot 16-of-18 from the foul line...Cavs forward Antawn Jamison pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds, but shot just 1-for-8 from the field for three points.