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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The Portland Trail Blazers got off nights
from most of their starters. But once again, depth was the
difference.
|  | | Rasheed Wallace and the Blazers have been beating up East teams. |
Reserve Greg Anthony scored 24 points, including six free throws
in the final 25 seconds of overtime, as Portland won its sixth
straight, 100-96 over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night.
"Coming into the season, I thought the Hornets were the best
team in the East, and they showed it tonight," Anthony said.
"They gave us all we wanted, but I think our team is starting to
jell and come together."
Rasheed Wallace added 17 points for the Blazers. Steve Smith,
Detlef Schrempf and Brian Grant each scored 12 for Portland.
Elden Campbell had 24 points and 11 rebounds for Charlotte,
which got its first home loss this season after five straight
victories. Eddie Jones added 22 points for the Hornets.
Charlotte led 91-88 in overtime before Wallace, Schrempf and
Smith scored baskets to put Portland ahead 94-91.
Jones cut the margin to 98-96 on a 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds
left, but the Hornets ran out of time.
"Tonight was one of those games," said Scottie Pippen, who
along with Damon Stoudamire and Arvydas Sabonis, struggled from the
floor. "We couldn't find the energy, but we did find a way to
win."
"It's hard to tell who the man is on this team," Pippen added. "We all look for
one another, and we distribute the ball well, but we have to
continue to get better as a team. We didn't get to the loose balls
tonight, and we didn't box out. We'll have to tighten up on some
things later."
Campbell scored the last four points of regulation to erase an
86-82 Portland lead and force the extra period. His spin move in
the lane with 1.1 seconds left sent the game into overtime.
The Hornets trailed 36-29 early in the second quarter before
reserve guard Baron Davis scored six points in a 14-3 run that gave
Charlotte a 43-39 advantage with 5:27 left in the half.
Grant countered with six points in a 10-1 Portland spurt that
gave the Blazers a 49-44 lead, but Jones hit a 3-pointer from the
top of the key and Bobby Phills followed with a layup with 13.9
seconds left to tie it 49-49 at halftime.
Campbell scored 12 points in the third quarter as Charlotte took
a 71-68 lead.
The Hornets stretched their lead to 80-73 on Campbell's jumper
with 5:42 left in the game. But Smith hit a baseline jumper,
Anthony made a 3-pointer and Schrempf scored on a fastbreak to tie
the game at 80 with 3:49 remaining.
"Steve Smith had a tough night, but then he gets those huge
points," said Hornets coach Paul Silas. "But that's what he's
been doing all his life. Portland's a great team. It looks like
they're still trying to find themselves, but they know how to
win."
Game notes
Charlotte forward Derrick Coleman, who missed Friday's game
against Orlando with a strained right foot, went to the bench with
2:57 left in the first quarter and did not return. ... Portland
entered Saturday night's game leading the NBA in scoring margin at
12.9 points per game. ... No team has scored 100 points against
Portland this season.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Portland Clubhouse
Charlotte Clubhouse
RECAPS
LA Clippers 98
Washington 89
Orlando 107
Atlanta 103
Portland 100
Charlotte 96
Indiana 107
Cleveland 98
Miami 110
Boston 92
Philadelphia 100
New Jersey 96
Utah 111
Milwaukee 100
San Antonio 106
Dallas 90
Denver 95
Chicago 86
Seattle 110
Houston 107
New York 86
Golden State 79
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