Trail Blazers 92 - 95 Kings
Final
  for this game

Blazers lose in Sacramento

Feb 3, 2012 - 7:09 AM Sacramento, CA (Sports Network) - Marcus Thornton returned from a four-game absence and scored eight of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, lifting the Sacramento Kings past the Portland Trail Blazers, 95-92.

Raymond Felton and Jamal Crawford both missed three-pointers in the final 10 seconds to seal the win for Sacramento.

John Salmons netted 19 points, Tyreke Evans had 18 and Jason Thompson recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Kings, who snapped a five-game losing streak.

"It was a great crowd effort tonight and we played hard," Evans said.

LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 28 points and 14 rebounds for Portland, which moved to 3-9 away from home compared to an impressive 10-1 mark at the Rose Garden.

"We've had every opportunity the last (couple) road games and we're finding ways to lose it," Crawford said.

Aldridge's layup tied the contest at 88 with 3:09 to play in the game, but the Kings reeled off the next five points.

Salmons' jumper gave the Kings a two-point lead, and a bit later, following an Evans turnover, Thornton made the play of the night as he blocked Felton's layup on a 2-on-1 Portland fastbreak. The ball bounced off of Felton, giving the ball back to Sacramento.

Thompson's layup made it 92-88 and Thornton hit 1-of-2 from the line on Sacramento's next trip down the floor to make it a five-point game with 1:12 left.

It appeared that Evans' jumper -- which made it 95-90 -- from the top of the key with 19.2 seconds left sealed the win for the Kings, but Aldridge's layup and Wallace's steal gave the Blazers one final shot with 9.9 to play.

Felton's three-pointer from the left wing clanked off the rim, but Wesley Matthews corralled the offensive rebound and dished to Crawford on the right wing. His trey with 0.9 left was off the mark as well.

Aldridge netted 19 points in the opening half as the Blazers took a 56-47 lead at halftime.

Portland shot just 25 percent and scored just 13 points in the third as Sacramento took a 71-69 advantage into the fourth.

Game Notes

Nicolas Batum missed his second straight game with a bone bruise on his left knee...Portland has lost four straight road games...Felton finished with 15 points and 10 assists.






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