• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Blazers aim to continue dominance of T'Wolves

Jan 7, 2011 - 4:18 PM (Sports Network) - The Portland Trail Blazers hope to finish up a three-game road trip in positive fashion tonight by continuing their dominance over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Blazers have topped their Northwest Division rival 13 straight times, including a 107-102 win in the Pacific Northwest back on Dec. 17. Portland has also bested Minnesota six straight times at the Target Center and hasn't lost to the Wolves since a 94-93 setback in the Twin Cities back on March 25, 2007.

So far the Blazers have split the first two game of their current trek, bouncing back from a loss in Dallas to take a 103-100 triumph in Houston on Wednesday. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 10 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter in that one as Portland used a late comeback to snap a six-game skid in Texas' largest city and improve to 7-3 since All-Star swingman Brandon Roy shut things down due to knee problems.

Aldridge also grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds. Patrick Mills scored 14 in a reserve role and Nicolas Batum, Marcus Camby and Dante Cunningham each finished with 10 points for the Trail Blazers, who won three of four overall.

"The second unit was terrific," Camby told the Trail Blazers' website. "They provided a spark and that's what won the game for us. This is a team game and we got the win and that's all that matters."

The Wolves, meanwhile, lost their second straight game on Wednesday when D.J. Augustin scored 12 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, as the Charlotte Bobcats snapped a nine-game road skid with a 108-105 victory over Minnesota at Target Center.

Kevin Love finished with 35 points, 15 boards and five assists for the Timberwolves, who have lost three of four overall. Michael Beasley tallied 28 points and 12 rebounds.

"To say we started the game poorly is an understatement," Love said. "That's all on us."