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Trail Blazers aim to rebound against 76ers

Dec 29, 2012 - 3:52 PM (Sports Network) - The Portland Trail Blazers face a quick turnaround following a lopsided loss as they return home to battle the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Trail Blazers visited the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night and were handed a 104-87 defeat. Portland never led in the game and trailed by 14 at halftime.

LaMarcus Aldridge netted 26 points, but sat out in the final moments because of a bruised sternum. Aldridge said he suffered the injury on a dunk attempt but expects to be okay.

"We got outplayed tonight," said Blazers head coach Terry Stotts. "(The) Lakers played really well, (but) we didn't necessarily play well. Obviously LaMarcus carried us for the long stretch, but the Lakers outplayed us."

Damian Lillard added 11 points and four assists for the Blazers, who have lost two of three since winning five in a row. Will Barton scored 11 points and Nicolas Batum finished with 10 and eight assists in a losing effort.

"We have to bounce back and get a win. We have a game (Saturday) against Philadelphia. This game is over with, we have to get together and see what we did wrong so when we play next time we know the adjustments to make. They just beat us pretty bad tonight. You have to give them credit where credit is due," noted Portland's J.J. Hickson, who had just two points and shot 0-for-7 from the floor.

The Sixers play the fourth contest of their eight-game road trip and look to even their record on the swing following last night's 96-89 setback to the Golden State Warriors.

Philadelphia trailed by one point after the first quarter, but was outscored 32-18 in the second. The 76ers did get to within four points in the fourth and trailed by just two with 24.2 seconds to go, but couldn't hit a clutch shot.

"We were just fighting uphill and they hit enough shots," Sixers coach Doug Collins lamented.

Jrue Holiday had 21 points and 10 assists, while Thaddeus Young finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds for Philadelphia.

The 76ers have lost seven of their last eight on the road and played a second straight game without Jason Richardson because of a strained lower back.

Portland recorded a 107-103 victory at home over Philadelphia in the lone meeting last season, giving it a win in three of the last four encounters overall.