Blazers Beat The Warriors 118-105
PORTLAND, Ore. (CBS/AP) - LaMarcus Aldridge had 25 points, the most he's had in the preseason, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Golden State Warriors 118-105 on Saturday night.
Nicolas Batum added 19 points and nine rebounds for the Blazers (2-3). Rudy Fernandez and rookie Armon Johnson each added 14 points and Portland led by as many as 21 points.
Stephen Curry had 17 points and 17 assists for the Warriors (2-2). David Lee added 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Blazers center Marcus Camby, expected to be the starter on opening night, sat out Saturday night because of a right hip contusion, while Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla continue to rehab from knee surgeries.
Jeff Pendergraph, who was supposed to back up Camby, injured his knee in an exhibition game and will miss the season after surgery.
Dante Cunningham started in Camby's place against the Warriors, although Aldridge handled the duties at center.
Przybilla returned to contact practice last Sunday and appears he will return before Oden. Coach Nate McMillan said this week it could be as soon as early November.
Golden State started their projected lineup to open the season -- Dorell Wright, David Lee, Andris Biedrins, Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry -- and they grabbed the majority of the minutes.
The Warriors did see the preseason debut of forward Rodney Carney, who signed with the Warriors as a free agent last month. Carney missed Golden State's first three exhibition games with a right hip contusion. He finished with nine points in 22 minutes.
Newly acquired forward Lou Amundson also saw his first action with the Warriors after sitting out with lower back stiffness. Amundson, who had three points in nine minutes, also signed with Golden State as a free agent.
Fernandez hit a 3-pointer that put the Blazers up 34-29 to end the first quarter. The Spaniard has performed well on court during the preseason, even though he opened fall practices by saying he wasn't comfortable in the NBA and wished to return to Europe.
Batum's reverse dunk made it 67-54 for the Blazers in the second quarter and they went on to lead 71-55 at the half.
Aldridge's consecutive dunks late in the third quarter to put the Blazers up 94-80.
NOTES: Blazers waived guard Seth Tarver, who played at Portland's Jesuit High School and for the Oregon State Beavers. The preseason roster is at 18. ... Fans at the Rose Garden cheered when the Wisconsin victory over No. 1 Ohio State was shown on the video scoreboard. The second-ranked Oregon Ducks could move into the top spot in the AP rankings Sunday. ... Blazers guard Wesley Matthews left the game with a sore right Achilles' tendon.
