Blazers clinch playoff spot, beat Knicks
March 31, 2010
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)—LaMarcus Aldridge(notes) scored 21 points before sitting out thefinal quarter, and the Portland Trail Blazers clinched a playoff spot with a118-90 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.
The Blazers came into the game needing help to reach the postseason. SanAntonio defeated Houston 119-102 and Dallas beat Memphis 106-102, meaning allPortland had to do was beat the Knicks to seal it.
Those games were finished when the Blazers went into halftime with a 65-38lead over New York. They cruised the rest of the way, leading by as many as 36points.
Portland has won four straight and 12 of its last 14, including six straighthome victories. The Blazers have gone 15-5 since the All-Star break and sincetheir acquisition of former Knick Marcus Camby(notes) in a trade with the Los AngelesClippers.
David Lee(notes) had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who have dropped thefirst three games on a five-game road trip.
Knicks forward Al Harrington(notes) tweaked his left ankle in the third quarter anddid not return.
It was never close. Portland went ahead 50-30 in the first half afterMartell Webster’s(notes) dunk following a timeout. The Blazers led by as many as 28 inthe first half, with veteran Juwan Howard(notes) coming off the bench to score 12points.
Nicolas Batum(notes) hit a 3-pointer to put Portland up 80-44 before the midwaypoint of the third quarter. Before he took a seat on the bench, Brandon Roy(notes)dunked to make it 92-63 late in the quarter.
All of Portland’s starters sat in the fourth. Batum finished with 20 pointsand Roy had 16.
The Knicks, who beat the Blazers 93-84 in December at Madison Square Garden,were denied their first season sweep since 1999-2000.
It was Portland’s last game this season against an Eastern Conference foe.The Blazers went 17-13 against the East this season.
It is the second straight year the Blazers have made the playoffs after afive-season drought. Portland lost in six games to the Houston Rockets in thefirst round last year.
The Blazers have made the playoffs 28 times since joining the NBA in 1970.
NOTES: Former Blazer Chris Dudley, a Republican candidate for Governor inOregon, was among those on hand as the Blazers held their final “Decade Night”of the season for the team’s 40th anniversary. Some fans even held campaignsigns during the game. … Former Blazer Brian Grant was also honored, as wascurrent Blazers broadcaster Antonio Harvey. … Actor Timothy Hutton was amongthe fans at the game.
