Recap: Portland 109, Phoenix 98
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Portland Trail Blazers coach Maurice
Cheeks named Zach Randolph a starter on Tuesday. Randolph
made him feel very good about the decision Wednesday night.
Randolph had 25 points and 10 rebounds as the Trail Blazers
beat the Phoenix Suns 109-98 in an exhibition game.
"Zach Randolph is who he is," Cheeks said. "He is going to
score points no matter what."
Stephon Marbury had 15 of his 26 points in the third quarter,
sparking a brief comeback for the Suns. The Blazers led by as
many as 20 points, and were ahead 69-52 in the third when Marbury
scored the Suns' next 14 points to cut the lead. Casey Jacobsen
hit a 3-pointer to get Phoenix within 79-72.
The Blazers pulled away again, leading 100-82 at 5:03 in the
fourth. Rasheed Wallace finished with 17 points and five rebounds
for Portland, which snapped a three preseason-game losing streak.
"Very tough to play," Suns coach Frank Johnson said about the
Blazers' big lineup. We need to find a way to take advantage
of it. Rasheed creates so many problems when he plays the 'three'
and he's so unselfish. Zach is going to be a star in this league."
Amare Stoudemire added 22 points and nine rebounds for the Suns.
The Blazers led 18-8 early in the first. The Suns whittled the
deficit down to 28-24, but Portland opened up another lead.
Tracy Murray hit a 3-pointer to give the Blazers a 40-27 lead
at 9:53 in the second quarter.
Randolph had 27 points and 18 rebounds in the Blazers' overtime
loss to Denver Monday night. The next morning Cheeks named his
starting line-up for the season, which included Randolph on
the front line with Wallace and Dale Davis.
"I have been working very hard to get myself in this position,"
Randolph said. "I've got to take advantage of it and come out
and play hard."
Bonzi Wells and Damon Stoudamire will be the starting guards,
making Derek Anderson, who started 76 games last season, the
odd man out.
Anderson sat out his fourth straight game with back spasms
and is expected to miss the Blazers' final preseason game
Friday at Phoenix. Ruben Patterson also sat out with Achilles'
tendinitis.
Suns guard Anfernee Hardaway also was out because of back spasms.
The Trail Blazers signed free agent center Vladimir Stepania
to a multiyear deal Wednesday night.
Stepania, a 7-foot-1, five-year veteran, played last season
for the Miami Heat, averaging 5.6 points and seven rebounds.
The Blazers are expected to start 6-foot-11 veteran Dale Davis
at center. The team also has 7-foot Ruben Boumtje Boumtje on
its roster. The Blazers lost 7-foot-3 center Arvydas Sabonis,
who decided to retire over the summer.
Stepania was expected to join the Blazers in time for their
opener at Utah on Oct. 29, the team said.
The Blazers released Scott Padgett after the game. Padgett
had three points in two minutes on the floor.
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