The Orlando Magic are tough to beat on the road. The Portland Trail Blazers are just tough to beat.
The Blazers kept up their strong play, winning for the 17th time in 18 games - including 12 straight at the Rose Garden, while the Magic got their league-best 16th road victory of the season.
Steve Blake had a season-high 24 points, LaMarcus Aldridge scored 19 and the Trail Blazers beat the Golden State Warriors 109-91 Wednesday night. Joel Przybilla added 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Blazers, who have won four straight since snapping a 13-game winning streak at Utah on Dec. 31 and improved to 17-3 overall at home.
With the victory, Portland took a half-game lead over the Denver Nuggets in the Northwest Division, moving into first place for the first time since March 1, 2001, when Portland was 41-18.
``It feels great. We had to win 17 of 18 games just to get here, so we know what it takes to be in first place,'' the Blazers' Brandon Roy said.
Hedo Turkoglu scored 13 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and added three rebounds and four assists in the period, leading the Magic to a 113-106 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Rashard Lewis scored 20 points, Dwight Howard had 17 points and 17 rebounds and Jameer Nelson added 14 points and nine assists to help Orlando exceed its road win total from last season.
Turkoglu finished with seven rebounds and seven assists to go with his 28 points, which matched a season-high.
``He's had a lot of games like this,'' Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. ``We like putting the ball in his hands down the stretch. He makes solid, solid plays. Our guys can tell you, he's finished a lot of games like that this year.''
In other games Wednesday night, it was: Atlanta 90, Cleveland 81; Toronto 109, Philadelphia 96; Charlotte 95, Boston 83; Houston 101, New York 92; New Jersey 99, Seattle 88; Milwaukee 98, Miami 92; the Los Angeles Lakers 109, New Orleans 80; Phoenix 129, Indiana 122 in overtime; and Dallas 102, Detroit 86.
Portland took its biggest lead of the first half when Martell Webster's 3-pointer made it 27-10. After Golden State pulled within seven in the second quarter, the Blazers scored 10 straight points to make it 50-33 on Joel Przybilla's turnaround hook.
Roy appeared to injure his right knee in a second-quarter collision with Golden State's Al Harrington. Roy was helped off the court by a pair of Portland trainers, but returned to start the second half, and finished with eight points, eight rebounds and eight assists. His pull-up jumper put Portland ahead 78-53.
In the second half, Blake was knocked to the court when Monta Ellis ran into him. Blake, who was clutching his left calf, had to be helped from the court. The team said he had a contusion and he did not return.
Golden State was led by Matt Barnes with 14 points. Baron Davis, the team's top scorer, had an off night with four points.
Corey Maggette scored 27 points to equal his season high for the Clippers, who lost for the 10th time in 11 home games and for the ninth time in 10 games overall. Tim Thomas added 20 points, Chris Kaman had 17 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots.
The Clippers, who trailed by 18 points midway through the third quarter, outscored the Magic 13-2 to trim Orlando's lead to 99-98 with 4:15 remaining.
Nelson's 3-pointer with 1:57 to play made it 105-100. A 3-pointer by Mobley and a free throw by Maggette pulled the Clippers to 109-106 with 29.5 seconds left, but Turkoglu made two foul shots with 12.2 seconds remaining and Howard added two more 6 seconds later.
``We kind of relaxed and let them back in the game,'' Howard said. ``We struggle burying teams. It's tough right now - we've been up and down. We're sticking together, things are going to turn around.''Hawks 90, Cavaliers 81
Joe Johnson scored 29 points to lead five Atlanta scorers in double figures and the Hawks held off a late comeback to beat Cleveland at home for the first time since Nov. 22, 2003.
LeBron James had 31 points, 10 rebounds and six assists - but was the only player with more than 12 points for the Cavaliers, who had won six straight in Atlanta.Raptors 109, 76ers 96
Anthony Parker matched his season high with 22 points, Chris Bosh had 21 and Toronto handed visiting Philadelphia its season-high fifth straight loss. Jose Calderon added 17 points and nine assists.
Willie Green led the 76ers with 18 points, Andre Iguodala and rookie Thaddeus Young both scored 16 and Andre Miller had 14 points and seven assists.Rockets 101, Knicks 92
Yao Ming scored 36 points to lead Houston to its season-high fourth straight victory. Rafer Alston had 20 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and Luis Scola finished with 19 points.
Jamal Crawford scored 21 points, Nate Robinson had 16 and Stephon Marbury 15 for host New York. Knicks coach Isiah Thomas was ejected in the opening minute of the final quarter when he came onto the floor to argue with referee Eric Lewis.Nets 99, SuperSonics 88
Richard Jefferson scored 28 points to lead host New Jersey, and Jason Kidd finished with 16 points, 11 assists and five rebounds. Vince Carter added 18 points and eight rebounds as the Nets won for the eighth time in 10 games.
Johan Petro tied his career high with 22 points for Seattle, which lost its fifth in a row and seventh in eight games. Nick Collison tied his season-high with 18 points.Bobcats 95, Celtics 83
Jason Richardson scored 34 points and grabbed nine rebounds, Gerald Wallace had 15 points and 10 rebounds boards, and visiting Charlotte snapped Boston's nine-game winning streak and handed the Celtics their fourth loss of the season.
Kevin Garnett led Boston with 24 points and eight rebounds.Lakers 109, Hornets 80
At New Orleans, Kobe Bryant scored 19 points, Andrew Bynum added 17 and Los Angeles won its fourth straight. The Lakers scored on their first eight possessions and led by double digits for most of the game.
Chris Paul scored 32 points and David West added 19 points for New Orleans.Bucks 98, Heat 92
Mo Williams scored a season-high 35 points to help Milwaukee send Miami to its ninth straight loss.
Dwyane Wade scored 34 points to lead the Heat, who lost their eighth straight on the road. Jason Williams scored a season-high 23 points in his first game since recovering from inflammation in his left knee.
Andrew Bogut scored 17 points to lead Milwaukee, which played without guard Michael Redd for the fourth game in a row.Mavericks 102, Pistons 86
Dirk Nowitzki had 23 points to help Dallas win its fifth straight and hand visiting Detroit a second straight loss after an 11-game winning streak.
Richard Hamilton had 18 points to lead the Pistons.Suns 129, Pacers 122, OT
Raja Bell scored a season-high 27 points, including two 3-pointers in the final 2 1/2 minutes of overtime, to help Phoenix rally from 16 points down.
Leandro Barbosa scored 25 of his 27 points after halftime, Amare Stoudemire had 25 points, and the Suns handed the Pacers their seventh consecutive road loss. Stoudemire also made five of six free throws in the final 1:18 of overtime.
Danny Granger and Shawne Williams scored 22 points apiece for Indiana.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
