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Blazers carry win streak into Minnesota

Dec 10, 2014 - 2:46 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Portland Trail Blazers continue their road trip Wednesday night with a five-game winning streak and a date at the Target Center versus the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Portland hasn't lost since a home setback Nov. 28 against the Memphis Grizzlies. That is the Blazers' only loss in their last 15 games, including seven straight road victories.

On Tuesday, in Game 2 of a five-game trip east, the Blazers handled the Detroit Pistons, 98-86, at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

LaMarcus Aldridge's 23 points and 11 rebounds led the Trail Blazers to another victory and one that extended the Pistons' losing streak to 13 games.

Wesley Matthews chipped in 19 points, while Damian Lillard and Chris Kaman each finished with 14 points for the Blazers.

A strong finish to the first quarter helped spring Portland to this win, as the Blazers closed out the period on an 11-4 run to open up a 33-22 lead. Kaman deposited six points during the flurry, which Aldridge capped by burying a triple just prior to the buzzer.

Portland steadily extended the margin during the third quarter and held an 81-64 lead early in the fourth, when Detroit suddenly came storming back to put the outcome in doubt.

The Pistons ripped off 13 consecutive points, but the Blazers' starters returned and secured the victory.

"We got off to a good start," Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts remarked. "We built a lead and, other than the run they made in the fourth, the stars came back and finished it off."

The Blazers will visit Chicago on Friday, then close the trip in Indiana on Saturday.

The Timberwolves have dropped six in a row and nine of their last 10. They haven't won at home since Nov. 19 against the New York Knicks, a span of six games, which included the Philadelphia 76ers' first win.

On Monday, the T-wolves became the latest victim of the Golden State Warriors. Minnesota fell to the league's best team, 102-86, at the Target Center.

Andrew Wiggins totaled 21 points with six rebounds and Shabazz Muhammad chipped in 14 points off the bench for Minnesota, which is still without Ricky Rubio, Kevin Martin and Nikola Pekovic, all starters.

The Warriors put the game away with a nine-point halftime lead, which turned into a 17-point cushion midway through the third.

"We turned the ball over way too many times," Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders said of the team's 19 giveaways. "We didn't give ourselves an opportunity."

Thaddeus Young scored 13 in the loss, followed by 10 out of Corey Brewer.

The Blazers have won four straight, including a 14-point romp in Portland on Nov. 30, and nine of their last 10 encounters with the Timberwolves. The Trail Blazers are 11-2 in their last 13 visits to Minnesota.