--The teams employ a contrast in offensive styles. Phoenix, which runs at any opportunity, leads the league in scoring (109.0) and field-goal percentage (.507). Portland, which normally looks to run only occasionally and gets most of its offense off the halfcourt set, is last in the league in fast-break points.
On Thursday, the Blazers set season highs for points and field-goal percentage (.602), shot .500 (9 for 18) from three-point range and outscored Phoenix 19-10 in fast-break points. The Suns "will give you open looks, but sometimes you can get caught up their game," coach Nate McMillan said. "We did a good job of playing their tempo, but a controlled tempo. It wasn't like a run-and-gun. We were moving the ball against their defense. A lot of the shots that didn't fall in the Philly game were falling tonight."
--Portland broke the game open in the third quarter and closed the door in the final seconds of the period on some artistry by the Blazers' "Spanish Armada," Rudy Fernandez and Sergio Rodriguez.
After Phoenix was called for an offensive foul with 6.5 seconds left, Rodriguez motored up the court and found Fernandez open underneath the basket with "an incredible pass," Fernandez said. Rudy turned around for a short-range reverse jumper with 1.7 seconds left.
Then he stole the inbounds pass and calmly swished a three at the buzzer to push the Blazers in front 100-79.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We knew we had an advantage there coming in. It was a matter of LaMarcus (Aldridge) taking full advantage of it. He had (Matt) Barnes guarding him, so he could get what he wanted. L.A. was great tonight. He was knocking down shots, running the lanes, playing great defense." -- Brandon Roy on Aldridge, who exploited his matchup with Barnes at power forward by scoring a season-high 29 points in addition to 12 rebounds and three blocked shots.
