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Roy comes up big as Blazers sink Timberwolves

Nov 9, 2008 - 6:32 AM By Daniel Cochran PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) -- Coming into the season, it appeared Greg Oden would be the new face of the Portland Trail Blazers. Six games later, that title still belongs to Brandon Roy.

Roy led the Blazers to a 97-93 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, building off the momentum of his overtime buzzer-beater just two days earlier against the Houston Rockets.

Roy, who had 24 points, nine assists and five rebounds, hit a jumper with 31 seconds left to give the Blazers a 95-93 lead.

"I definitely want the ball at the end of the game," Roy said. "I looked for help, but no one was there."

The Timberwolves came down with a chance to tie the game, but Al Jefferson missed a short shot. Kevin Love and Jefferson failed to put follows in, too.

Coach Nate McMillan was thankful.

"We're getting breaks and they're going our way," he said. "We want to be sharper going down the stretch."

Jefferson made a pretty spin move in the lane with 48 seconds left to tie the game at 93-93. Jefferson was fouled on the play but missed the free throw, setting the stage for Roy.

"You go to your bread and butter at the end," Timberwolves head coach Randy Wittman said of Roy's game-winning points.

LaMarcus Aldridge, who had 27 points against Houston, missed his first six shots before tipping in a loose ball. Aldridge finished strong, though, with 24 points and 13 rebounds.

"I just tried to get to the free-throw line," Aldridge said. "Then, I got more confidence and I played better."

Portland trailed throughout the first half, shooting just 38 percent in the first two quarters.

Minnesota's lead disintegrated in the third quarter, as the Blazers went on a 23-11 run to tie the game at 66-66.

Rudy Fernandez's 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter gave the Blazers their first lead since the game's opening minutes at 72-70. Fernandez scored 11 points, including three 3-pointers.

"This was a big game, it's good for us to be at 3-3," Fernandez said.

The Blazers built their fourth-quarter lead to as many as six, but the Timberwolves climbed back to tie the game at 91-91 with one minute remaining.

After Roy's shot, Travis Outlaw hit two free throws to seal the Blazers' win.

Jefferson led the way for the Timberwolves, collecting 27 points and five rebounds.

Love failed to make a field goal, going 0-of-7 from the floor for Minnesota, which led by as many as 12 in the first half.

"It's the best kept secret that people don't always play their best in their hometown," Love said.