Cleveland at Portland

[Real Deal]

TIME: 9:00 PM ET

TV: NBALP

[Real Deal]

PORTLAND, Ore. -- After a demoralizing loss in Phoenix, it took the Portland Trail Blazers some time to get going at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

 

The first half Sunday night was a yawner, but the Blazers picked up the pace in the second and pulled away for a 98-78 victory. LaMarcus Aldridge had 28 points and eight rebounds.

 

"It wasn't sharp, and when you come off a bad game like we played in Phoenix, you've got to be sharp," Aldridge said.

 

The Blazers are 6-2, with their two losses coming on the road to the Clippers and the Suns. The 102-77 defeat at Phoenix on Friday came after a big victory against the Los Angeles Lakers the night before.

 

Portland coach Nate McMillan gave his team Saturday off, and didn't hold shootaround until later than usual on Sunday. The result? McMillan said the Blazers seemed "in a daze."

 

"I knew we needed to get that blood circulating, but it took us a half to get going," McMillan said.

 

Wesley Matthews added 24 points for the Blazers, who led by as many as 24 in the second half.

 

Rookie guard Kyrie Irving, the top pick in last June's NBA draft, had a season-best 21 points -- 11 in the third quarter. Antawn Jamison, Cleveland's top scorer going into the game, made a 3-pointer for his only basket but grabbed 11 rebounds.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/gametracker/recap/NBA_20120108_CLE@POR

[Cleveland's Finest]

Frustrating game...we were in it until halfway through the third quarter. We made it 57-53, then the sloppy turnovers started happening more and we shot more desperation threes since they were cold from there. Just an ugly game...but Varejao continues to show he's one of the best defenders in the league. He had a beautiful pass to to the basket to a cutting Kyrie...he can do so many things and is so highly underrated. Casspi is not scoring enough, and Gee should get more playing time until Omri gets back to form.