Bonzi Wells scored 20 points to lead six players in double figures and Dale Davis had 18 points and 14 rebounds as the red-hot Trail Blazers rolled to their 10th straight victory, 107-95 over the Sacramento Kings.
The Blazers are the hottest team in the league, having not lost since February 15. With a victory over the Western Conference-leading Kings, Portland matched last season's longest winning streak, a 10-game run from Dec. 22-Jan. 13.
![]() Chris Webber and the Kings got held up by Rasheed Wallace and the Blazers. Sam Forencich/NBAE/Getty Images |
Portland had the lead throughout the second half but was clinging to a 68-64 edge with 3:59 left in the third quarter before closing the period on a 15-5 run.
Scottie Pippen scored five of his 19 points during the spurt, which gave the Blazers an 83-69 lead entering the final quarter.
Portland had a 95-84 advantage with 5:43 remaining, but Sacramento scored seven of the next eight points and pulled within 96-91 on a pair of free throws by Chris Webber with 4:07 left.
The Blazers responded with five straight points and closed the game with an 11-4 run, highlighted by six points from Rasheed Wallace, who finished with 15 and seven rebounds.
Damon Stoudamire scored 16 points and Ruben Patterson added 12 off the bench as the Blazers defeated the Kings for the 12th time in the last 13 meetings at the Rose Garden.
"It seems that everyone that steps into the game plays well," Cheeks said. "It's such a team thing. All the guys are playing so well together. We win in a collective manner."
Portland shot 47 percent (38-of-81) and made 25-of-28 free throws. It also held a 44-33 rebounding edge and scored 20 points off 13 offensive boards.
The Blazers beat the Kings at their own game with a 19-5 edge in fast-break points.
"During this winning streak, our defense has allowed us to get easy baskets and get into transition," Cheeks said. "When we do that, it takes the pressure off us having to make plays all the time in the half-court offense."
"We gave up way too many opportunities," Sacramento coach Rick Adelman said. "Basically, they beat us off the dribble and that's been our problem the last three weeks. It comes down to defense and rebounding, and we didn't do either very well tonight."
Peja Stojakovic scored 26 points and Webber added 24 and eight rebounds for Sacramento, which has lost four of its last six games.
Bobby Jackson has 16 points and fellow reserve Hedo Turkoglu contributed 11 for the Kings, who committed 17 turnovers leading to 22 points for Portland.
Sacramento's lead over the second-place Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference has been reduced to one-half game.
"It's tough to stay focused in the second half of the season," Jackson said. "We're not playing well and we've got to turn this around. It's a lack of concentration."








