Blazers Stay Red Hot, Muffle Sonics 89-79

Durant shines in first Christmas showcase; team, alas, does not
By Jesse Andrews,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 26, 2007 4:11 AM CST
Blazers Stay Red Hot, Muffle Sonics 89-79
Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy, right, goes to the hoop against Seattle SuperSonics' Kevin Durant, middle, and Kurt Thomas during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2007. Roy led the Blazers with 17 points to beat the Sonics 89-79.(AP Photo/Don...   (Associated Press)

So much for the Christmas gift of watching Oden versus Durant. Instead, Seattle's rookie phenom got to face an Oden-less Portland team on a 10-game winning streak, and while Kevin Durant led all scorers with 23 points, the remarkable Trail Blazers—a 50-game loser last year—nabbed a win.

Durant's 40% field-goal mark actually topped Portland's team mark of 39%, but only one of his teammates, Wally Szczerbiak, reached double digits. Brandon Roy and Jarrett Jack led Portland with 17 apiece, and Channing Frye and Steve Blake added 12. Next up for the streaking Blazers: the Timberwolves, who have the league's worst record. (More NBA stories.)

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