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Improving Hornets throttle Trail Blazers

Feb 14, 2013 - 4:13 AM New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - Anthony Davis scored a game-high 21 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead the New Orleans Hornets to a 99-63 rout of the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.

Ryan Anderson added 14 points and seven rebounds and Jason Smith dropped in 13 points for the Hornets, winners in four of their last five tilts.

Greivis Vasquez added 10 points, eight assists and five rebounds in the win.

Damian Lillard scored 12 points, Victor Claver chipped in 11 and J.J. Hickson scored 10 for the Trail Blazers, who have dropped five straight.

"It is embarrassing, one of the most embarrassing nights of the year. When we get back next Monday we'll need to get ready for Phoenix," said Blazers forward Nicolas Batum. "We need a good break and to get some rest and then get back and have a good game against Phoenix."

Portland's Wesley Matthews left early in the first quarter after injuring his left ankle. Matthews hurt himself after colliding with the Hornets' Austin Rivers, landing awkwardly on his left leg before being helped off the court.

The Hornets outscored the Blazers, 19-14, in the first quarter and led by a 38-26 count at the break. New Orleans shot just 37.2 percent (16-for-43) over the first 24 minutes but smothered Portland defensively, forcing 11 turnovers and holding the Blazers to just 30.6 percent (11-for-36) from the field.

Vasquez and Davis led a balanced New Orleans scoring attack with seven points apiece, while Al-Farouq Aminu and Smith each scored six.

The Hornets used a 15-7 run early in the third period to increase its margin, and the lead grew to 25 before New Orleans took a 67-44 advantage into the final quarter.

Portland never got closer than 20 points down the rest of the way.

"We just tried to stay aggressive, we started off in the first half and played good defense and just tried to carry that over to the second half," Davis said. "We just got after it tonight and stuck with the game plan. We kept talking, and when we do that it's hard to beat us."

Game Notes

New Orleans guard Eric Gordon missed his second straight game because of a sprained right hand ... The Hornets scored 20 points off of 18 Trail Blazers' turnovers ... Portland went 13-for-13 from the free throw line ... Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge scored a season-low six points on 2-of-11 shooting. It was just the second time this season he failed to reach double figures.