 There was just no stopping Wallace and the Blazers tonight in Charlotte. Garrett Ellwood/NBAE/Getty Images from Blazers-Hornets: 56k | 300k |
Portland point guard Damon Stoudamire was placed on the injured the list Tuesday and point forward Scottie Pippen is sidelined with a bruised right knee. But the Blazers have won two straight without the duo and moved over .500 for the first time this season with their fifth straight win over Charlotte.
Portland closed the third quarter on a 19-6 run led by four points from Anderson and three from Rick Brunson. Eight different players scored during the spurt, which put the Blazers ahead for good and gave them a 70-57 lead entering the final period.
"Our defense is what did it for us," Anderson said. "By being aggressive we got them to turnover the ball and we got layup after layup. The bench was huge for us, we have to have that. They did what they're supposed to do."
Bonzi Wells had 16 points and seven rebounds and Brunson, who had scored just five points all season, finished with 10 and six assists in 29 minutes off the bench.
Portland's reserves outscored their counterparts, 28-18, as Shawn Kemp and Steve Kerr each added six points.
"Our bench stepped in and played pretty good," Portland coach Maurice Cheeks said. "Shawn Kemp played pretty good, Steve Kerr stepped in as he always does and played well. We got a lot of good play from a lot of guys off the bench."
The Blazers are not suffering without Stoudamire at point guard, either. Erick Barkley started at the point had seven points and three steals without a turnover in 20 minutes.
Portland shot 50 percent (36-of-72) from the floor and made 22-of-25 free throws.
"Charlotte usually doesn't give their opponents that many free-throw attempts," Anderson said. "Fortunately we were able to capitalize. I think getting to the line won the game for us."
"The defense was the problem the whole time," said Charlotte center Elden Campbell, who scored 10 points. "We are just struggling defensively, we should be able to stop guys."
David Wesley scored 19 points and Baron Davis added 18, eight assists and four steals for Charlotte, which committed 20 turnovers and made just 14-of-23 free throws.
The Blazers had a 15-10 lead midway through the first quarter before Charlotte went on a 12-4 run led by Davis, who made two layups and a 3-pointer.
The Hornets held a 29-21 advantage with 10:35 left in the second quarter, but Portland scored 15 of the next 21 points and took a 36-35 lead on a shot by Wallace with 4:49 remaining.
The teams were tied three times in the final four minutes of the second quarter and five more times in the third before Anderson scored six points in an 11-3 run that gave the Blazers a 62-54 lead with 3:14 to go.
After a technical foul shot by P.J. Brown, Portland scored six of the final eight points of the period. The Hornets never got closer than nine thereafter.
Charlotte has not defeated Portland on its home floor since February 26, 1999.
"We didn't have the fire and energy and that should be cause for concern," Hornets coach Paul Silas said. "Everybody has got to take it upon themselves to work hard. It's a long season and I don't like the way we're headed right now."