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Blazers host Hornets looking to stay undefeated at home

Nov 28, 2008 - 11:25 AM New Orleans (9-5) at Portland (10-6) 10:00 p.m. EST

PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) -- The Portland Trail Blazers dominating play at home has powered their best start in seven seasons.

The Trail Blazers look to remain undefeated at the Rose Garden when they face the surging New Orleans Hornets on Friday.

Channing Frye scored 17 points in 23 minutes off the bench while LaMarcus Aldridge added 16 and rookie Nicolas Batum chipped in 15 for Portland en route to a dominating 106-68 victory against the Miami Heat on Wednesday.

With the win, the Blazers improved to 6-0 at home and earned their first 10-6 start since 2000-01.

Portland's average margin of victory at the Rose Garden is 14.6 points and it has put together its longest home winning streak to start a campaign since forging victories in its first nine games here during the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season.

The Hornets will try to end that success when they go for their fifth straight win on Friday.

New Orleans nearly had its streak snapped on Thursday, but James Posey's late heroics preserved the surge.

Posey, who finished with seven points, drilled his lone 3-pointer from the right wing with 19 seconds left to play against the Denver Nuggets, giving the Hornets a 101-98 advantage.

Chauncey Billups missed a three on the ensuing possession and Peja Stojakovic and Chris Paul each hit a pair of free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.