Even After 40-Point Win, Portland Can’t Get Respect

The Portland Trail Blazers keep winning, and their opponents keep coming up with ways to downplay their fast start.

Isaiah Rider scored 21 points as the Blazers improved their record to an NBA-best 13-3 with a 111-71 rout of the Houston Rockets Sunday night at Portland.

“I would like to bottle up this game,” Portland Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “It was a great performance, and we did a great job defensively all four quarters.”

The 40-point margin was Portland’s biggest in 121 games against Houston, and it was the Rockets’ worst loss since a 136-80 defeat to Seattle in December of 1986.

“It was just one of those nights,” said Charles Barkley. “I think Utah is the best team in the West, and Portland is right behind them.”

The Utah Jazz, who fell to 13-4 with a loss to the Lakers, also stopped short of outright praise for the Blazers following a 102-100 double-overtime loss in Portland last week. Coach Jerry Sloan talked of “giving the game away.”

Houston Coach Rudy Tomjanovich, who pulled Barkley and the rest of his starters early in the fourth quarter, gave more credit to the Blazers, who have won six straight and 11 of 12.

“Portland would be hard to beat if we were rested,” he said. “Portland is very deep and very good. They have great versatility.”

Indiana 85, Miami 72--The Pacers didn’t like losing at home, and their bench made sure it didn’t happen again.

Indiana lost to Miami by 11 points in their first meeting at Market Square Arena three weeks ago and by 19 points to Golden State on Friday, their only home losses of the season

New York 97, New Jersey 86--After missing late shots that would have won the previous two games, Patrick Ewing made sure there would be no need for any late-game heroics against the Nets.

Ewing scored 18 of his 30 points during the third quarter and the Knicks won their eighth consecutive home game. Ewing, whose 31 points at Miami last Tuesday and 24 at Milwaukee on Friday were overshadowed by his last-second misses, also had nine rebounds and four blocks.

Washington 103, Philadelphia 95--Jeff McInnis, playing after Rod Strickland strained his groin midway through the third quarter, scored six points in overtime as the Wizards won at Philadelphia.

Washington made 32 of 36 free throws to overcome a poor offensive performance with only two baskets during a 15-minute span of the third and fourth quarters.

Toronto 105, Boston 92--In a game featuring two of the league’s top rookies, Vince Carter outplayed Paul Pierce and the Raptors won at Toronto.

Carter scored 14 of his 26 point to spark a 21-8 run in the second quarter. Pierce, the NBA’s leading rookie scorer, was held to seven points by Carter.

San Antonio 106, Denver 96--Tim Duncan had 34 points and 13 rebounds at Denver as the Spurs won their fourth game in a row and extended the Nuggets’ losing streak to four.

The Spurs, who shot a season-high 57% in Saturday night’s 114-85 victory over the Clippers, shot 56% and outrebounded the Nuggets, 42-27.

Minnesota 88, Seattle 77--Kevin Garnett had 19 points and 14 rebounds as the Timberwolves handed the SuperSonics their third loss in a row. Seattle is 3-7 after a 6-0 start.

Sacramento 94, Dallas 89--The Kings scored five straight points to take a 92-84 lead with 56 seconds left at Sacramento. Jason Williams made a free throw, Vlade Divac followed two more foul shots and Corliss Williamson made a short jump shot.