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Game Day: Trail Blazers at Hornets

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Charlotte, N.C. – Fast starts to the season are now the norm for the Blazers; for the second year in a row they have a long winning streak to hang their hat on. 

On Wednesday, they look to continue it. And Charlotte looks to end theirs.

After sleepwalking through the first half of their previous game in Philadelphia, then cruising to an easy victory, Portland is in the midst of an eight game winning streak, just three shy of the 11-gamer they racked up at the beginning of last season.

Charlotte, meanwhile, has stumbled out of the gate amidst lofty expectations and newfound hype. After an off-season that reinvigorated a fan base with name changes and free agent signings, the Hornets, fresh off a playoff appearance in 2013, are 13th overall in the east, and are in the midst of a five game losing skid.

INJURY REPORT

Portland: CJ McCollum (broken right index finger) is out.
Charlotte: P.J. Hairston (right ankle sprain) is probable, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (stress reaction, right foot) is out. Gary Neal (left shoulder sprain) is doubtful.

ENTER TO WIN

In Portland's Last Game...

Every NBA team is going to struggle against an inferior opponent from time to time. But the good teams weather the storm, then assert their dominance before the final buzzer.

The Trail Blazers are one of those teams.

Despite playing a sloppy first half that resulted in a two-point deficit going into the halftime intermission, the Portland Trail Blazers came away with a 114-104 victory versus the Philadelphia 76ers Monday night at the Wells Fargo Center.

“That was a tough game, both teams kind of got off to a slow start,” said Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts. “I think you really have to give credit to Philly for the way they got after us defensively… We did much better, obviously, at both end of the court in the second half.”

Portland has now won eight-straight games, are 11-3 on the season and 3-2 on the road. In contrast, the 76ers, a team that plays hard from start to finish, are still searching for their first win 14 games into their 2014-15 season.

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