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Blazers edge Hornets, win streak at 6

Feb 17, 2011 - 8:39 AM Portland, OR (Sports Network) - LaMarcus Aldridge poured in 34 points and pulled down seven rebounds, as the Portland Trail Blazers held off the New Orleans Hornets, 103-96.

Wesley Matthews added 24 points and eight boards for the Blazers, who have won six in a row for the first time since November 6-14, 2009.

Andre Miller tallied 18 points and seven assists for Portland, which heads into the All-Star break with a 32-24 record.

"It feels good to be apart of a team that's really clicking," Matthews said. "We're molding and we're building, and we're getting tougher and stronger and we're winning games."

David West finished with 27 points and five rebounds for the Hornets, who have dropped three straight and nine of 11 overall. Willie Green donated 24 points and six boards.

Trevor Ariza chipped in 16 points, nine rebounds and six assists for New Orleans, which is 33-25 heading into the break.

Trailing by five, 84-79, with 7:18 to play, the Blazers went on an 11-2 run to go in front for good. Aldridge tallied five points during the burst, which Miller capped with a jumper for a 90-86 lead with 3:39 to go.

Portland then went 9-of-10 from the foul line over the final 51.8 seconds to seal the victory.

The Blazers led for a majority of the first quarter and took a 35-26 margin into the second. But Portland went cold in the second stanza.

The Hornets used a 9-0 run early in the second to get within one, 38-37, on Chris Paul's jumper with 6:48 to go. Just over three minutes later, Jarrett Jack and Paul each made two free throws to make it 42-42.

West's hook shot with 46.9 seconds left gave New Orleans a 49-48 edge at the half. Portland shot just 28.6 percent from the field in the second quarter.

Ahead by one, 58-57, with under 8 1/2 minutes remaining in the third, the Hornets put together an 8-2 flurry to build a seven-point cushion. It was 76-70 heading to the fourth.

Game Notes

New Orleans had won the previous two meetings with the Blazers this season. The Hornets had won three in a row at the Rose Garden...The Blazers started a five-game homestand on Wednesday...Jack had 12 points off the bench. Paul was limited to eight points...Portland went 25-of-30 from the foul line, while the Hornets went 19-of-24 from the charity stripe.