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Randolph, Blazers extend winning streak to four games

Dec 16, 2006 - 7:06 AM PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) -- The Portland Trail Blazer are not supposed to be winning. But you can't tell Zach Randolph that.

Randolph had 26 points and seven rebounds and Travis Outlaw scored 15 points off the bench as the Trail Blazers pushed their winning streak to four games with a 109-99 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

A 6-9 forward, Randolph had been on a tear this season. The 19th overall pick in 2001 is averaging a career high in points (25.3) and has 14 double-doubles in 24 games.

"Zach especially is really stepping up," Portland coach Nate McMillan said. "He's making the effort on both ends. He's passing the ball out when the double teams come and he's making an effort on defense as well."

On Friday, Randolph made 9-of-21 shots from the field while also adding a season-high five assists.

"We are playing good basketball," Randolph said. "Everybody is doing what they are supposed too and they are stepping up. We hit some deep balls, Ime (Udoka) and Travis were big and that's what we need. We need everybody."

Portland (11-14) is more than halfway to its win total from all of last season when it went a woeful 21-61.

"This is a good job for these guys," McMillan said. "They're just doing a good job of understanding one another, of playing team basketball, and following the game plan and executing it."

The Clippers closed within 67-66 at the five-minute mark of the third quarter. But the Blazers took control from there and never looked back.

Jarrett Jack scored six of his 14 points in a 14-6 run to close the third quarter, which gave the Blazers an 81-72 cushion. Portland continued to pull away thereafter.

Juan Dixon drained a jumper and Udoka made a 3-pointer from the left corner, giving Portland a commanding 104-88 with 3:45 remaining.

Udoka scored 13 points and Dixon added 12 for the Blazers, who shot 51 percent (40-of-78) and made 9-of-15 from the arc.

All-Star Elton Brand had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Shaun Livingston contributed 16 points and a season high-tying 10 assists for Los Angeles, which fell to 1-8 on the road this season.

"When you nearly shoot sixty percent and loose it's very disappointing," Brand said.

"Defense. That's what it all comes down too," Livingston said. "If you can't make any stops, you can't win any games. It's as basic as that. Unless you're Phoenix or someone like that, you'll never get anywhere if you can't guard that guys in front of you. We will continue to loose unless we change that, regardless."