--Portland, the No. 1 rebounding team in the league, out-boarded Charlotte 45-26, including 17 off the offensive glass. The Blazers outscored the Bobcats 48-32 in points in the paint, with LaMarcus Aldridge (25 points, nine rebounds) and Greg Oden (14 points, 14 boards) in domination mode.
"They dominated us (on the boards) the last game and came out with the victory, so that was one of the things we wanted to make sure we did better," said Oden. "It turned out good for us." --LaMarcus Aldridge got out on the fast break more than he has all season, especially early, and scored 13 of Portland's first 30 points as the Blazers raced to a 32-18 lead. Coming off a quiet 10-point, three-rebound performance against the L.A. Clippers on Monday, Aldridge made 11-of-15 shots from the field, scoring several times on driving hook shots.
"I was trying to be more efficient, trying to take my time and read the defense," said Aldridge, who reached the 20-point mark for the 16th time in the last 24 games. "The last game, I tried to speed up. My focus was to be more calm and be more solid."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "They've done a marvelous job. Any time soon, they're going to have as good a power forward as we have in our league, as good a center as we have in our league, and as good a two-guard as we have in our league -- if not now. And they have a lot of pretty good pieces." Charlotte coach Larry Brown, on the Blazers and LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden and Brandon Roy.
