• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Jefferson, Bobcats rout Trail Blazers

Mar 23, 2014 - 3:37 AM Charlotte, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Al Jefferson tallied 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the Charlotte Bobcats' 124-94 romping of the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday.

Kemba Walker scored 26 points and Gerald Henderson had 23 for Charlotte, winners in five of seven. The trio shot a combined 31-of-51 (60.7 percent) from the field and 6-of-8 from distance.

"We came out with a big win against a good team tonight," Walker remarked. "We just went hard as possible out there and see what happens."

The Bobcats opened the game on a 17-4 run and never trailed.

Damian Lillard netted 20 points for Portland, which was without All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (back) for the fifth straight game. Dorell Wright and Wesley Matthews contributed 17 and 15 points, respectively.

"We have to do a better job, but overall, they just played a better game than us," Lillard admitted.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist fueled Charlotte's strong start, putting in six of his nine points during the surge and providing his usual intensity on the defensive end. Jefferson hit a pair of short jumpers following six straight from Kidd-Gilchrist, Walker followed with a 3-ball and Henderson made a jumper for a 17-4 advantage 5:13 into the contest.

Portland got back within 10 multiple times during the opening frame, but never got within single digits the rest of the way.

It was 33-22 after the first and 69-46 at halftime.

Matthews came alive in the third, potting 11 of his 15 on 5-of-8, but Charlotte never flinched and led comfortably until the final buzzer.

Game Notes

Charlotte won the rebounding battle, 50-36, and outscored Portland 54-32 in the paint ... Aldridge is considered day-to-day and is with the team on its current five-game road trip ... C.J. McCollum had 12 points off the bench for Portland ... The Blazers had won four straight over Charlotte.