LaMarcus Aldridge scored 34 points and Wesley Matthews added 24 as the Portland Trail Blazers slid past the New Orleans Hornets 103-96 in the Rose Garden. The loss, the Hornets' third straight and seventh in eight games, dropped New Orleans percentage points behind the Blazers for the No. 5 seed in the West. Portland, New Orleans, Denver, Utah and Memphis are now in a virtual dead heat for four playoff spots.
Blazers Vs. Hornets: LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews Pace Portland Past New Orleans
The Hornets have dearly missed center Emeka Okafor, who has now missed nine games with a strained left oblique. The biggest drop-off is where Okafor is best: post defense. Aldridge shredded David West and any other middling big Hornets coach Monty Williams could throw out there, and it's clear that unless Okafor comes back fully healthy soon, New Orleans will be ill-prepared to both capture a playoff bid and do something with it.
MVP candidate Chris Paul had among his worst games of the season, scoring eight points on 2-6 shooting, five assists and four turnovers in 41 minutes. West had 27 and Willie Green added 24, but it wasn't enough.
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