Aldridge inspires Portland win

http://msportnews.com/aldridge-inspires-portland-win/

A review of Saturday’s NBA action as LaMarcus Aldridge put off surgery to help the Portland Trail Blazers claim victory.

LaMarcus Aldridge put off surgery on his left thumb and helped the Portland Trail Blazers to a 103-96 victory over the Washington Wizards.

The power forward was expected to miss up to eight weeks of the Northwest Division leaders’ season but now intends to play on for as long as he feels physically able.

Aldridge said on the Blazers website: “My idea right now is to play the rest of the season. But if it gets too much where I can’t handle and I’m not playing at a very good level, I’ll stop. But hopefully it goes well for us.”

His 26 points and nine rebounds suggested he had coped satisfactorily, with team-mate Damian Lillard chipping in with 20 useful points.

For Washington, John Wall scored a team-high 25 points.

The New York Knicks revival was halted in its tracks in Charlotte where the Hornets battled out a 76-71 victory over Derek Fisher’s men.

Finding themselves the subject of ridicule over the course of a 16-game losing run, the Knicks had rebounded by winning three straight before Saturday’s setback at the Time Warner Cable Arena.

The injured Carmelo Anthony sat out the game and despite a 25-point haul from guard Tim Hardaway Jr it was a night to forget for the Knicks, who have the second worst record in the NBA this season.

Southwest Division frontrunners the Memphis Grizzlies were too strong for the Philadelphia 76ers, rolling to a 101-83 victory in which Zach Randolph scored 17 points and claimed 14 rebounds in a stand-out display.

OJ Mayo plundered 20 points in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 101-86 win against the Detroit Pistons, while the Utah Jazz picked apart the Brooklyn Nets, Gordon Hayward scoring 24 points in a 108-73 rout.