Trail Blazers get 11th win in a row

PORTLAND, Ore. -- After the Portland Trail Blazers won for the 11th consecutive time, normally stoic owner Paul Allen looked directly at a camera and jubilantly held up one finger on each hand to signify the streak.

That’s what winning is doing for the surprising Trail Blazers.

“We’re going out there with all the confidence in the world, and a sense of urgency at the same time,” forward Martell Webster said. “It’s resulting in wins.”

The latest win came Tuesday night, when Brandon Roy and Jarrett Jack each scored 17 points and Portland beat the Seattle SuperSonics, 89-79.

The Trail Blazers have the longest current winning streak in the NBA, and it’s their best run since they won 12 in a row during the 2001-02 season.

Joel Przybilla had a season-high 16 rebounds to go with six points, and Portland improved to 13-3 at the Rose Garden.

The Trail Blazers all acknowledged this game was big. Not only was the streak on the line, but it was a nationally televised game on a holiday that has traditionally showcased stars such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

“I remember as a kid watching Michael Jordan play on Christmas,” Przybilla said. “This is really a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I don’t know that I’ll ever get that chance again in my career.”

Portland has played 13 times on Christmas, with a 12-game winning streak.

After a lackluster first half, Portland pulled away in the third quarter with a 16-2 run capped by Roy’s three-pointer that put the Trail Blazers ahead, 66-50. Jack’s three-pointer from the corner made it 89-75 with 2 minutes 11 seconds left.

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RESULTS, SCHEDULE

at Cleveland 96, Miami 82: LeBron James scored 25 points and added 12 assists to outplay fellow superstar Dwyane Wade, who scored 22 points but made only eight of 16 free throws and didn’t make his first field goal of the second half until there was only 4:01 left.

at Portland 89, Seattle 79: Brandon Roy and Jarrett Jack each scored 17 points, and the Trail Blazers extended their winning streak to 11 games.

at Lakers 122, Phoenix 115: Kobe Bryant scored 26 of his 38 points in the second half, and Andrew Bynum had a career-high 28 points to go with 12 rebounds.

From the Associated Press