After back-to-back losing seasons, the surging Portland Trail Blazers are making plenty of noise in 2013-14.
The Trail Blazers try to extend their winning streak to six for the first time in almost three years when they visit the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
While Portland went a combined 61-87 over the previous two seasons, coach Terry Stotts' team is looking like a contender in the early going. The Blazers (7-2), who rank near the top of the NBA with a rebounding differential of 4.3, have outrebounded opponents by an average of 12.0 boards during their run.
Portland is also averaging 103.1 points, significantly higher than last season's mark of 97.5. The Blazers haven't won six in a row since Feb. 5-16, 2011.
"From an offensive stand point we are moving the ball well," Stotts said. "I like the way we are coming together as a team."
The Blazers continued their dominance on the glass in Friday's 109-96 win at Boston, pulling down 47 boards to the Celtics' 34. LaMarcus Aldridge recorded his fourth consecutive double-double with 27 points and 12 rebounds while Nicolas Batum and Mo Williams scored 18 apiece.
"We have been great all year about playing inside-outside," said Aldridge, whose team is shooting an impressive 41.3 percent from 3-point range.
"It's just a matter of trying to get wins. It's just one of those years where you know our team is good and you know I've worked hard this year. We are just trying to get better every game."
Friday marked Portland's first win in Boston since March 31, 2004. The Blazers have won three straight away from home by an average of 13.0 points.
"It's been a long time," Batum said. "It's good for our confidence. It's good to keep winning on the road."
Portland had taken eight straight from the Raptors (4-6), including four in a row at Toronto, before getting blown out 102-79 during its last visit Jan. 2. Aldridge, averaging 26.3 points and 12.8 boards over a six-game stretch in the series, had 14 and 10 that night. Raptors guard Terrence Ross, meanwhile, scored a career-high 26 off the bench and DeMar DeRozan added 24.
DeRozan matched a career best with 37 points Friday, but the Raptors were otherwise held in check during a 96-80 loss to Chicago. Rudy Gay, averaging 24.0 points over the last three games, had 20 but was the only other player to score in double figures.
Kyle Lowry had an especially bad night, finishing with six points on 3 of 15 from the field. The Raptors, who put up their fewest points this season, dropped to 1-5 when scoring 95 or fewer.
"There's nothing redeeming about tonight," coach Dwane Casey said. "That wasn't us. We've had stretches like that but not an entire game.
"That's one of the things about the NBA. It's a long season, it's a marathon. And it's how you bounce back from these type of games that identify you."
The Raptors may want to think about getting Amir Johnson and fellow big man Jonas Valanciunas more involved against a Blazers team giving up a whopping 48.2 points per game in the paint - one of the league's worst marks. The duo managed just seven points on a combined 3-for-8 shooting against the Bulls.
Toronto has taken nine of its last 13 home games against Western Conference foes dating to last season.
TORONTO (AP) A steady hand and cool demeanor helped Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers.
Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge each scored 25 points, Nicolas Batum added a season-high 24, and the Trail Blazers won their sixth straight with a 118-110 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
Lillard was 3 for 3 from the floor in the extra period as the Blazers escaped after blowing a 17-point lead in regulation.
"We didn't have a reason to be all riled up," Lillard said. "They played well getting back into the game. I think we were calm because we knew what we needed to do to win the game and we were able to get that done."
Rudy Gay forced overtime with a buzzer-beating layup and tied a season high with 30 points to go with 10 rebounds. DeMar DeRozan scored 29 points and Jonas Valanciunas added a season-high 19.
"The overtime we played well, especially defensively," Portland coach Terry Stotts said. "I was proud of the way we competed in overtime, made plays and got the win."
The Blazers made a season-high 15 3-pointers, finishing 15 for 32 from beyond the arc. Toronto made just three.
"It's tough when they're knocking down shots like that," Gay said. "No matter how much we rotate, move it around and switch, it's tough to play when a team has it going. I'm not happy they made shots, but I'm happy with the effort we put forth."
Portland's lost-distance accuracy wasn't a surprise to the Raptors coach Dwane Casey, who talked about Portland's potent offense before the game.
"(They're) one of the best offensive teams that we've seen," Casey said. "I think as far as scoring the basketball, averaging 103 points a game, they are a very explosive offensive team so we've got to be on point. We've got to guard the 3-point line."
Toronto was just 2 for 12 from the floor in overtime, while the Blazers continued to patiently move the ball and connect on 5-for-8 field goals.
Lillard wasn't thrilled with the fourth-quarter collapse, but was pleased with the way his team responded after it.
"We could have folded," Lillard said. "Once we got to overtime, on the bench we just said we need to get some stops, we need to execute and pull this game out. Then we went on the floor and we did it."
Batum hoped the young Blazers would use the game as a lesson.
"This wasn't the first time we have done it," Batum said. "Four or five times in a row we've had a good lead and had to close out the game and the other team came back. It paid off right now because we won in overtime and when you are up 15, 18 points with seven minutes to go, we have to close out the game."
Notes: The Trail Blazers visit Brooklyn on Monday. ... Kyle Lowry had 10 points and 10 assists for the Raptors.
THE FACT: Rudy Gay has now made six game-winning or tying shots in the final 10 seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime in his last four seasons, passing Carmelo Anthony (5) for league-most.
The Portland Trail Blazers (8-2) continued their solid start to the season, winning their sixth game in a row, defeating the Toronto Raptors (4-7), 118-110 at the Air Canada Centre in overtime on Sunday. The Blazers had a balanced attack with three starters scoring 24 points or more with Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge scoring 25 and Nicolas Batum adding a season-high 24 points.
After a closely contested first half where Toronto shot 56.8 per cent from the floor and the Blazers shot 46.7 percent from the 3-point line, the visitors were up 57-54 going into the break. With 5:41 left In the third quarter, Aldridge and Batum scored all but one point of an 11-4 Portland run to force the first double-digit lead of the game, closing the quarter at 79-69. However, the Raptors made a final surge, with 2:24 left in the fourth, going on a 13-2 run, capped off by a Gay buzzer-beating lay-up to send the game into overtime.
Despite the Raptors momentum leading into the final frame, the Trail Blazers outscored 16-8, with Lillard and Batum combining for 13 of those points with three, 3-point shots. The Raptors were led by Gay's game-high 30-point and 10-rebound double-double and DeMar DeRozan's 29 points.
QUOTABLE: "That's not the first time we doing it, I think four or five times in a row, we had a good lead and we have to close out the game and the other team came back. But we did a good job in overtime."
-- Blazers forward Batum on the Blazers surrendering a double-digit lead.
THE STAT: The Blazers were effective with their ability to spread the floor on offense. That spacing led to 32 attempts from behind the arc where they knocked down a season-high 15 shots for a 46.9 percentage, almost making more 3-point shots than the Raptors attempted (17).
TURNING POINT: The Raptors 19-6 run of the final 4:02 of the fourth quarter to force overtime appeared to be the game changer, but with 2:30 left in the extra frame the Blazers went on a 14-2 run to close out and win the ball game.
QUOTABLE II: "That's been one of our strengths. I thought in the first half we moved the ball really well, but I think we're playing pretty unselfishly to find the open man. We have enough good shooters that if you give them time they're going to make more than their share of shots."
-- Blazers head coach Terry Stotts on ball movement.
HOT: Batum was 8-for-15 for 24 points, with six rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots, but was key from the 3-point line, shooting 5-for-8, particularly in overtime where he went 2-for-2 with big baskets that put the game out of reach.
NOT: The Blazers interior defense gave up 62 Raptors points in the paint. They have had difficulty protecting the painted area all season, giving up a poor 48.2 points per game prior to Sunday, yet it hasn't affected their ability to win games.
NOTABLE: Portland has won nine of its last 10 games versus the Raptors.