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Roy helps Blazers edge Kings

Nov 25, 2008 - 6:52 AM By James Reddick PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) -- Brandon Roy scored nine of his 28 points over the last 5:09 to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 91-90 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Monday.

After the Kings took an 84-78 lead with 5:33 remaining, Roy scored seven straight points to put the Trail Blazers back on top. LaMarcus Aldridge added a layup to push the lead to 87-84, and Sacramento could not recover.

Sacramento had a chance to take the lead but Beno Udrih missed a jumper with 57 seconds remaining. With his team trailing, 91-88, with 31 seconds remaining, John Salmons was fouled on a drive to the hoop and hit both free throws.

Travis Outlaw missed on a short jumper in the lane with 12 seconds to give Sacramento a chance to win the game, but Salmons missed an off-balance left-handed shot at the buzzer.

"They contested the left hand, they collapsed on me, and I just tried to get the best shot I could get," Salmons said.

Portland won despite shooting 40 percent (34-of-84) from the floor and committing 20 turnovers.

"It was really difficult tonight," Roy said, "We didn't play so well but we got the win."

Salmons led the way with 20 points and Udrih added 17 and eight assists before fouling out in the final minute for the Kings, who have lost six of seven.

After being blown out last week by the Blazers at home, Sacramento came into Portland looking for redemption. On Monday the Kings did not go down easily, but a scrappy effort and sharp shooting from Brad Miller and Salmons were not quite enough.

"I thought our guys played extremely well down the stretch," Kings coach Reggie Theus said. "You know, again, we had the game on our wrist and we came up a little bit short."

The Kings were dominated on the boards, 48-32, but stayed in the game thanks to their 3-point shooting, as they knocked down 9-of-17 from beyond the arc. Spencer Hawes hit a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and finished with 15 points.

Greg Oden made his first start since injuring his foot in the opener against the Lakers. He finished with three points and six rebounds in just over 19 minutes.