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Aldridge, Roy come up huge in Blazers' OT win over Hawks

Mar 24, 2007 - 4:10 AM ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Brandon Roy again showed why he is the top candidate for Rookie of the Year, although teammate LaMarcus Aldridge showed he isn't ready to concede the honor.

Roy hit a tying 3-pointer from the top of the key with 17.3 seconds left in regulation and Aldridge took over in overtime to lift the Portland Trail Blazers to a 102-100 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in overtime.

The performance of the rookies overshadowed a superb effort by Atlanta's Salim Stoudamire, who scored a career-high 37 points and hit 6-of-9 from the arc.

Stoudamire gave the Hawks the lead with a 3-pointer from the left wing for an 88-85 lead with 22.6 seconds to play.

However, Roy responded, coming off a down pick from Aldridge and drilling a 3-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game.

"It's funny. We've been working on that play a lot lately in practice," Roy said. "And in practice I shoot it every time.

"When coach called it, I said, 'Please let me make it,' because I just made it in practice. I got a good look, (Josh) Childress went under the screen, that is exactly what we wanted him to do."

Hawks coach Mike Woodson was thoroughly impressed with Roy.

"He's a great offensive player," Woodson said. "This is the first time we've had the opportunity to see him. He stepped up and played extremely well."

The No. 6 pick overall, Roy had a chance to win it in regulation but missed a 15-foot jumper at the buzzer. Aldridge took over by scoring six of Portland's first eight points in overtime.

"It was just one of those nights where things felt good," Aldridge said. "When I got here, I was making my shots and I felt like it was going to be a good night, and it was."

Aldridge, the No. 2 pick, played a career-high 48 minutes, scoring 27 points and grabbing 14 rebounds as Portland won its third straight game.

With the team's leading scorer and rebounder, Zach Randolph, on bereavement leave, Aldridge dominated inside as the Blazers outrebounded the Hawks, 53-43, and avoided the first season sweep at the hands of the Hawks since the 1996-97 season.

Stoudamire had a chance to tie the game at 97-97 with 44 seconds left in OT and Aldridge covering him on a mismatch, but his shot rimmed out.

"They switched out. I kind of wanted to freeze up Aldridge," Stoudamire said. "I got a good look, and it went in and came back out. It was a good look, though."

Childress was a one-man show in the first half as he scored 18 of his 22 points before the break for Atlanta. He got out in transition for easy scores, including a highlight reel-worthy 360-degree jam, to help the Hawks build a 15-point lead early in the second. He also ha 12 rebounds.

The Hawks led, 47-40, at the break behind Childress' 6-of-11 shooting. He also ha 12 rebounds in the game

"They came out with a lot of energy, and we really couldn't match it," Roy said. "Coach said at halftime that we had to play harder, and we had a chance to win this game if we can get back on defense. We went on a run and everybody stepped up and played well (in the second half)."