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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – The Portland Trail Blazers certainly
didn't need Shawn Kemp for this victory.
|  | | Trail Blazers center Arvydas Sabonis, right, shoots over Adonal Foyle in the first quarter. |
Arvydas Sabonis scored a season-high 32 points and Damon
Stoudamire had Portland's first triple-double in more than six
years as the Trail Blazers beat the Golden State Warriors 122-91
Friday night.
Facing a Golden State team in freefall from a season-long injury
epidemic, Portland had no problem snapping its three-game losing
streak -- even without Kemp. The former All-Star forward has
volunteered for drug treatment and will miss the rest of the
season.
"Shawn's problems don't have anything to do with basketball, so
I don't think it's any motivation for us," Stoudamire said. "We
love Shawn, and we're with him all the way. We just want him to
handle his business and don't even worry about the basketball part
of it."
Sabonis, who played only 24 minutes, fell one point short of his
career high by hitting 11 of 12 shots from all over the court. His
remarkable proficiency was just one of several offensive
superlatives from the Blazers.
Stoudamire had 15 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for the
Blazers' first triple-double since Rod Strickland did it on Feb.
25, 1995. It was Stoudamire's first triple-double since 1997, when
he was in Toronto, and the fourth of his career.
But Stoudamire was more concerned with the victory, which came
after a lengthy team meeting on Thursday. Coach Mike Dunleavy said
the Blazers talked about finishing strong in the season's final
eight games to begin a playoff push for the championship many
thought they were favorites to win this season.
"We played three close games this week, and we haven't been
making shots," Dunleavy said. "We needed to get some guys going
on a roll."
Portland (48-28), which moved 1 1/2 games behind Dallas and Utah
for fourth place in the Western Conference, also got 21 points on
7-for-8 shooting -- including five 3-pointers -- from Steve Smith.
The Blazers shot 60 percent from the field as every player on
their roster scored -- even Antonio Harvey, who went 4-for-5 in his
first action since January. He was activated to fill Kemp's roster
spot earlier Friday.
The Blazers, who clinched their 19th consecutive playoff berth
Thursday when Seattle lost at Houston, scored 38 points in the
first quarter. They led by 31 points at halftime and by 41 less
than four minutes into the third quarter.
Portland led 102-58 entering the fourth, but the Warriors made a
lengthy run to cut the final margin. Rookie Chris Porter was
5-for-20 from the field, and Adonal Foyle was 4-for-13.
"Their defense looks good when we have guys that can't shoot,"
Golden State coach Dave Cowens said. "They contested a lot of
shots, but they have so much comfort knowing that they can outscore
you."
The loss was Golden State's sixth straight, 17th in 18 games,
and 25th in 27 since the All-Star break. Portland beat Golden State
for the seventh straight time.
Paul McPherson scored 15 of his career-high 22 points in the
fourth quarter for Golden State. Vonteego Cummings had 18 points,
while Antawn Jamison -- the NBA's ninth-leading scorer -- had just 13
points on 4-for-15 shooting.
Jamison's depression over the Warriors' disastrous season
continues to deepen. Though he reiterated his desire to remain in
Golden State for next season, his comments lately have taken on a
more desperate tone.
"Take it how you want it. I can't do this anymore. I can't be
associated with a losing team," Jamison said. "(The Blazers) have
a team. We don't have a team. We've got five guys out there, but in
all honesty, we don't have a team at all.
"We don't have chemistry (or) cohesion. We don't have guys even
practicing together at all, so that's not a team."
The Blazers couldn't let even this blowout go by without a tiny
bit of controversy. Stacey Augmon was ejected with 11:18 to play
for a flagrant foul on Adam Keefe.
Game notes
Portland guard Bonzi Wells twisted his left knee late in
the second quarter and didn't return. ... Scottie Pippen scored one
point on 0-for-5 shooting in 27 minutes. ... Before the game,
Golden State signed point guard Chris Garner, who hadn't played in
the NBA in three years. He played 17 minutes and scored two points.
... Garner was needed because Mookie Blaylock was declared out for
the season. The absence of Blaylock, who needs surgery on a finger
ligament, left Cummings as the only point guard on Golden State's
roster.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Portland Clubhouse
Golden State Clubhouse
Blazers' Kemp to undergo rehab for cocaine abuse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 96
Cleveland 88
LA Lakers 100
Boston 96
Miami 81
Charlotte 76
Toronto 108
Orlando 100
Indiana 100
Chicago 93
Minnesota 101
Phoenix 88
Sacramento 118
Vancouver 90
Portland 122
Golden State 91
LA Clippers 113
Milwaukee 110
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