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Randolph hopes to end Blazers four-game slide

Nov 18, 2006 - 3:44 PM Portland (4-6) at New Jersey (5-3) 7:30 pm EST

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The slumping Portland Trail Blazers will try and end their four-game road swing on a positive note.

The Trail Blazers have dropped four straight games and three on their current road trip as they stop and take on the New Jersey Nets on Saturday.

Zach Randolph had 23 points and 12 rebounds and Ime Udoka added 14 points for Portland in Friday's 118-90 thrashing at the hands of the Boston Celtics. The Blazers went 4-2 through their first six games before things have fallen apart.

In his first career start, rookie LaMarcus Aldridge had 12 points and five rebounds Friday. Aldridge was the second overall pick in June's draft but missed the start the of the season due to right shoulder surgery. He is averaging 10.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

Vince Carter scored 28 points and Jason Kidd had 17, nine rebounds and six assists as the Nets won back-to-back games for the first time this season with an 100-91 triumph at Indiana on Friday.

Kidd enters Saturday's matchup just one triple-double away from tying Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain for third on the all-time list with 78.

Portland has won four of its last six games against New Jersey, although the Nets captured a 78-65 victory here a season ago. In their last two meetings at Continental Airlines Arena in the series, the Nets have kept the Blazers under 65 points.