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Blazers use balanced attack to top struggling Hornets

Mar 6, 2012 - 6:55 AM Portland, OR (Sports Network) - Nicolas Batum led five Trail Blazers in double figures with 19 points, while LaMarcus Aldridge and Raymond Felton each recorded double-doubles in Portland's 86-74 drubbing of the lowly Hornets.

Aldridge posted 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Felton chipped in 11 points and 10 assists for Portland, which climbed back to .500 (19-19) by snapping a three-game losing streak.

Gerald Wallace (13) and Wesley Matthews (12) rounded out the Blazers' high scorers.

"Well we needed it. We needed a win desperately," Blazers head coach Nate McMillan said. "You drop your first three games coming off of the break and you're not playing well and you're about to go on a seven game road trip - really important for us to get this win tonight against New Orleans and now try to build off of this win on the road."

Marco Belinelli netted 18 points to pace the Hornets, who have lost four of five and six of eight overall. Chris Kaman had 10 points and 11 boards but shot just 4-of-13 from the field in defeat.

Portland closed the first quarter on an 11-4 run to go on top 27-17, then held the Hornets to one field goal over the final 4 1/2 minutes of the second quarter to stay in front, 46-38, at intermission.

The Blazers put the game away with a 15-0 run after the midway point of the third. New Orleans missed four shots from the field, four more from the foul line and turned it over three times during the stretch.

A Felton-to-Aldridge alley-oop slam highlighted the flurry, which ended with two Matthews free throws for a 65-45 lead with two minutes left.

Matthews drained a three-pointer in the closing seconds to push the margin to 70-48, and the Blazers cruised in the final 12 minutes.

"Offensively the last few games we've kind of been struggling, figuring everything out, and it's not easy," Kaman said. "This Trail Blazers team does a good job. They put a lot of pressure on you. We didn't come out tonight and we didn't play the way we're capable of playing."

Game Notes

Portland scored 12 second-chance points to New Orleans' three...Marcus Camby pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds for the Blazers, who scored 18 points off 16 turnovers.