PORTLAND — Rudy Fernandez set a career-high, LaMarcus Aldridge tied a career-high, and the Blazers narrowly escaped what could have been a season-low.
Playing once again without Brandon Roy, who missed his first of at least three games due to a sore left knee, Portland’s offense looked reinvigorated against Minnesota Friday –the fast-break flying, the pick-and-roll popping and the rhythm dictated by running and gunning.
It was a style absent in games past and one well-received by the Rose Garden crowd, which was treated to an array of alley-oops and open-court jams.
But the nine-point lead the Blazers held with five minutes left dwindled to four just before Aldridge missed two free throws with 1:16 remaining. Portland held on nonetheless, downing the Timberwolves, 107-102, and snapping a three-game skid.
“I never care how we get a win,” Blazers guard Wesley Matthews said after the game. “I don’t think anybody cares as long as you get it.”
So how did they get it?
Well, the two-man game between Aldridge and Fernandez figured in prominently.
Inheriting more touches and minutes because to Roy’s absence, Fernandez scored 18 of his career-best 26 points in the first half and finished with a game-high four 3-pointers.
But unlike most games, in which the Spaniard patiently lurks beyond the 3-point arc awaiting open looks, Fernandez created many opportunities for himself and his teammates by working off the dribble — initiating the offense instead of simply contributing to it.
It’s a role Fernandez is accustomed to on the international stage, one he wanted to capitalize on Friday, and perhaps most significantly — one he thoroughly enjoys.
“I have to take these minutes and be aggressive and have fun,” said Fernandez, who added a game-high six assists while going 9 of 15 from the field. “Today I was playing free, I was being aggressive, I was having fun — and it’s what I want.”
Aldridge was the greatest beneficiary of Fernandez’s approach, the power forward tying a career-high for points with 36, many of which were the byproduct of pick-and-roll play between him and Rudy.
Just two days earlier, Aldridge scored 35 points in a loss against Dallas, and appears to be improving a touch more every week.
Matthews has certainly taken notice, dubbing Aldridge “Amar’e” in reference to the Knicks’ All-Star power forward Amar’e Stoudemire.
Aldridge, who added 10 rebounds while tying a career-high in blocks (five), didn’t indulge the comparison because he feared jinxing himself. He also deferred much of the credit to his fellow Blazers.
“They found me when I was open. I made some easy shots,” said Aldridge, who hit 15 of his 22 attempts, including a spectacular alley-oop off a Fernandez pass in the third quarter. “I was in a slump for a while, not shooting a good percentage. But the first half of the Dallas game, I was still in my slump and then in the second half, things just turned around. It carried over today.”
Aldridge would have set a new career-high in points had he made one of those two free throws toward game’s end — and this was no secret to him.
He said that a fan yelled out the information to him as he approached the line … “and I got really tight.”
It wasn’t because the game was close?”
“Nah, it wasn’t,” Aldridge said. “It was my new career-high and I just got really, really tight.”
The Blazers (13-14) were no doubt stoked about their victory, but had few teammates to celebrate with. Neither Nicolas Batum (right shoulder strain) nor Marcus Camby (right shoulder bruise) played in the second half. Joel Przybilla, meanwhile, suffered an ankle injury.
Blazers coach Nate McMillan was not sure if any of the three would be available for tonight’s game vs. the Warriors. But he did say that rookie forward Luke Babbitt, who has been playing with the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League, should be in a Portland uniform tonight.
Matthews, who scored 19 points, was the only other Blazer in double figures.
Minnesota (6-21) led by as many as eight in the first quarter, but trailed by seven at halftime thanks to The Blazers’ 36-point second quarter.
Michael Beasley led the Timberwolves with 33 points while Kevin Love added 19 points and 17 rebounds.
Former Blazer Martell Webster, who received a hearty ovation from the Rose Garden crowd upon entering the game, scored 19 points in 30 minutes off the bench.
