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Roy scores 28 as Trail Blazers top Bucks

Jan 22, 2007 - 6:42 AM PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) -- After the Portland Trail Blazers reached an early comfort zone, rookie Brandon Roy made clutch shots down the stretch.

Roy scored a season-high 28 points and Zach Randolph added 19 and 12 rebounds as the Trail Blazers held on for a 99-95 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Portland won for the third time in five games despite nearly squandering a 20-point second-quarter lead. The Trail Blazers ended a three-game losing streak against Milwaukee, which has lost eight of nine in January.

"We needed every bucket down the stretch," Roy said. "They came out with energy in the second half, but we did a good job of fighting them off. We're still learning."

"The team also is beginning to get better rhythm in the last few weeks, and I've been getting comfortable with my rotation," Portland coach Nate McMillan said. "I think a year ago, we lose this game. ... There (are) always three goals for us. Get to the free-throw line, control the boards and take care of the ball."

Milwaukee chipped away throughout the second half and cut the deficit to 88-85 with 3:46 left after Earl Boykins hit consecutive baskets and Ruben Patterson made 1-of-2 free throws.

"I think the difference in the second half was defensively," Boykins said. "That's how we were able to get back into the game. It's just unfortunate we weren't able to do that in the first half."

After Martell Webster hit two foul shots for Portland, Patterson made two layups sandwiched around Roy's 3-pointer as the Trail Blazers held a 93-89 lead with 2:09 to play.

"Roy is making a lot of difference for us this year," Randolph said. "He's being aggressive. Teams are starting to focus on him a little more, and he's seeing some double-teams. He's adjusted to that and still making plays. He's just giving us another option and that's what we need."

"He's the best rookie I've seen so far this year," Milwaukee coach Terry Stotts said. "He's mature. He's poised. He's confident. He hits big shots. He's versatile. He can do everything. There are lots of adjectives to describe him."

Jarrett Jack made three free throws after being fouled from beyond the arc with 1:23 left for Portland. But Ersan Ilyasova sank a foul shot and Boykins drilled a 3-pointer with 36 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 96-93.

However, Roy hit a leaner with 14 seconds remaining to help seal the victory.

Webster scored 15 points off the bench and Jack added 14 for the Trail Blazers, who had a 44-38 rebounding advantage.

Randolph scored 13 points and Roy had 12 in the first half to help give Portland a 56-36 advantage with 2:35 remaining in the second quarter.

"We can't have as many mental lapses as we did tonight," Roy said. "We got to stop playing (down to) our competition and play Portland basketball. It was a learning (experience), but in the past, we would have lost this game. We held them off with a total team effort and that's what it takes sometimes."

Boykins scored 28 points, Charlie Bell had 23 and Andrew Bogut 16 for Milwaukee, which has dropped six of its last seven on the road.

"Our first half was absolutely terrible," Bogut said. "The second half was a completely different game. ... We can't come out terrible and then plug away and try and come back the whole rest of the game."

"We've got to go out there and play hard and with more energy," Bell said. "Just because those guys (Michael Redd and Mo Williams) are out doesn't mean that we can go out there and play with less energy. We got to go out there and pick it up more and right now, we are not doing that."