Kings 79 - 101 Trail Blazers
Final
  for this game

Kings hit the road to Portland

Dec 27, 2011 - 3:45 PM (Sports Network) - A pair of early unbeatens collide tonight in the Rose City, as the Portland Trail Blazers play host to the Sacramento Kings.

Portland won its 11th straight home opener with Monday's 107-103 triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers and received a big night from LaMarcus Aldridge, who finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Gerald Wallace added 21 points and nine boards, as the Blazers fended off a pesky Sixers squad in the end and had six scorers in double figures.

"It feels good," Aldridge said of the win. "It starts us out with confidence."

Wesley Matthews had 16 points and six rebounds, while Raymond Felton and Jamal Crawford both scored 12 points for Portland, which is opening the campaign with three straight games at the Rose Garden.

The Blazers improved to 31-11 all-time in home openers and got 13 rebounds from veteran center Marcus Camby. Camby's 13 boards were the most by a Trail Blazer in a season opener since 2005-06 (Zach Randolph). Blazers hobbled big man Greg Oden is sidelined indefinitely and underwent two microfracture knee surgeries. He hasn't played in two years.

Portland didn't miss a beat without former star Brandon Roy, who was forced into early retirement due to recurrent knee injuries.

The Kings will play four of their first five games at home, but will hit the road to Portland this evening.

In last night's 100-91 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, Marcus Thornton scored 12 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and Tyreke Evans added 20 points for the young Kings, who went 24-58 last season. Second-year center DeMarcus Cousins finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds in a winning cause.

"We stayed the course," Thornton said. "We ran the offense to perfection and came away with a win."

John Salmons scored 13 points and rookie Jimmer Fredette registered six points and three assists in 26 minutes for Sacramento. The Kings, who ended a five- game losing streak to the Lakers at home, have won six straight home openers. They are 7-19 in road openers, however.

The Kings lost two of three meetings with Portland last season and are just 1-9 in the past 10 matchups between the two clubs. Sacramento has not won a road opener in Portland in two tries (1988-89, 1989-90).






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