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Blazers rush out early, pound Heat

Nov 27, 2008 - 7:03 AM PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) -- The Portland Trail Blazers dominated in every phase of the game while pounding the Miami Heat, 106-68, on Wednesday.

Channing Frye scored 17 points in 23 minutes off the bench while LaMarcus Aldridge added 16 and rookie Nicolas Batum chipped in 15 for the Blazers, who improved to 6-0 at home.

Batum had nine points as Portland jumped to a 24-6 lead after the first 7 1/2 minutes. The Blazers led, 37-17, after the first quarter and never looked back.

"It's all about Batum," Frye said. "That dude has limbs for days. His knack for the game, being 19, is just ridiculous. He's a great addition to our team. I think quietly he's becoming one of our guys we can rely on. He's so annoying on defense, he's everywhere. He doesn't get tired. He's always hustling and he gets the open shots. He guards their superstars."

"I thought the start of the game was very important for us," Blazers head coach Nate McMillan said. "It's tough on a team like Miami to come across the country and play the first game on a trip. We didn't want to give them anything to be confident about."

The Heat played as if they were already looking forward to their Thanksgiving turkeys, shooting 35 percent (29-of-84) from the floor, including 2-of-19 from beyond the arc.

"From the beginning of the game, all the way through, they out-classed us and outplayed us," Miami head coach Eric Spoelstra said. "They just buried us.

"We just didn't come out with the proper disposition, really, to come out here to the west to start this trip on the right note. We really have to focus and grind in defensively and we missed a few shots. It buckled from there."

Portland dominated on the boards, 55-28, and totaled 31 assists to Miami's 14.

"I thought the guys played great tonight," McMillan said. "It was beautiful basketball from start to finish. Defensively we got after it and the ball movement was terrific.

"I like the unselfish way we played. Offensively we got good spacing. I really respect everything about the way we played tonight."

With the game already well in hand, the Blazers continued their torrid pace, outscoring the Heat, 30-11, in the final frame.

Portland capped its win with an emphatic alley-oop from Rudy Fernandez to Travis Outlaw with 5:37 remaining to push their lead to 94-61.

On a dismal shooting night, Dwyane Wade was held to 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting.

"Nicolas (Batum) has been a step ahead of most rookies defensively," McMillan said. "I thought he did a really good job guarding Dwyane Wade. Nicolas has length and quick feet. He can get around screens really well. He can go to the hoop to get rebounds and he can block shots.

"He's just learning the NBA game on offense but he's doing some nice things. For one thing, he's hitting his shots."

Greg Oden also had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Blazers, who shot 11-of-26 from beyond the arc.

"Yeah, I'm getting there," Oden said. "And, we played well today. It always helps when the team plays well. The next game will be another challenge and I'll have to do it again."