PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Joe Johnson had 33 points and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Trail Blazers 107-96 Sunday night, snapping a nine-game losing streak to Portland.
The Hawks had not won at the Rose Garden since Dec. 15, 1997. The nine-game overall losing streak dated to 2002.
Salim Stoudamire, a Portland native, hit a 3-pointer that gave the Hawks an 87-70 lead, their biggest of the game.
Zach Randolph’s hook shot for the Blazers narrowed it to 94-87 in the fourth, but Tyronn Lue hit two straight jumpers to put the Hawks up 101-88 and the fans at the Rose Garden booed the home team before streaming out.
The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for Atlanta on the road.
The Blazers have lost five straight and 10 of 12, including a 91-89 defeat to visiting Orlando on Friday night.
Randolph had 30 points for the Trail Blazers. Rookie Sergio Rodriguez added 11 assists off the bench.
Atlanta’s Josh Smith left Friday’s 106-95 loss at home to Cleveland after he was poked in the eye. Hawks coach Mike Woodson listed Smith as day-to-day, but he started on Sunday wearing protective eyewear and had 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Lue finished with 19 points.
The Blazers started Travis Outlaw instead of struggling guard Martell Webster. Outlaw quickly picked up two fouls and Webster came out with 15 first-half points.
It was Webster’s 20th birthday and he looked determined to get his starting job back. He finished with a season-high 18 points.
The Blazers could not muster any defense.
Stoudamire hit a 3-pointer to put Atlanta up 40-32, but Webster answered with a 3-points for Portland. Johnson came back with another 3 for the Hawks, before Rodriguez hit a 3-pointer for the Blazers to narrow it to 43-38.
The Hawks led 60-52 at the half.
Notes: Portland rookie Brandon Roy has shown improvement and will begin low impact rehabilitation of his heel injury. He will not make the team’s upcoming road trip and will be reevaluated upon the team’s return. … The Blazers open a season-high six-game road trip with a matchup against Detroit on Tuesday. … Hawks coach Mike Woodson had never defeated the Blazers.
AP-ES-12-03-06 2333EST
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