Document text
--> --> Wells leads Blazers to victory over Warriors PORTLAND (AP) - With the fourth quarter winding down, Portland Trail Blazers coach Maurice Cheeks turned to press row and asked whether his team had a day off coming up. They have two. "I might just leave Bonzi in," Cheeks said. Wells did stay in, testing his rebuilt left knee for a career high-tying 41 minutes in an unexpectedly brilliant performance. In his second game back from a torn ligament, the fourth-year forward scored a career-best 33 points as the Blazers held off the Golden State Warriors 92-87 Wednesday night. "I missed these guys, and I missed playing," Wells said. "The hard work I put in this summer, it's all paid off. Hopefully, I can continue to do this all season." Cheeks kept telling Wells he wasn't coming out, although he played only 20 minutes the night before in a season-opening loss to the Lakers. "That's what he kept saying: `We've got a day off. Keep running, keep going for me,"' Wells said. Scottie Pippen, held to two points on 1-of-5 shooting Tuesday night, made 10 of 14 shots and scored 26 points. Damon Stoudamire added 12 assists as the Blazers gave Cheeks his first coaching victory. Antawn Jamison scored 23 points to lead the Warriors, who gave Portland a tough challenge, but lost to the Blazers for the ninth straight time. "You've got to win games like that," Jamison said. "You can call it a moral victory or whatever, but we still got an 'L' by our name. We've got to learn from our mistakes." Wells was hurt April 6 at Golden State, and while he worked hard over the summer, Cheeks said before Tuesday night's opener he doubted Wells would play. Starting at shooting guard in place of Derek Anderson, who has a sprained right ankle, Wells resembled his old, quick self Wednesday night. He ran the floor, dunked on fast breaks and made open jumpers. Asked how healthy he was, in terms of percentage, Wells said, "I ain't no mathematician. I'm just back on the court, and I'm just happy. That's all I can say." After a 3-pointer by Wells, Pippen hit consecutive 3s, followed by a hook and a free throw, to give the Blazers an 88-85 lead with 3:02 left. Wells then sank two straight jumpers to put the game out of reach at 92-87 with 1:53 to go. "I wanted to come out and be more aggressive," Pippen said. "Bonzi, of course, had a great game. Offensively, he was unstoppable." Wells, who scored 19 points in the third quarter, wants his starting job back, but said he won't make any waves when Anderson returns. "I can move between the 2 (shooting guard) or 3 (small forward)," Wells said. "When teams win, it all turns out." Erick Dampier added 18 points for the Warriors, and Danny Fortson, who missed the final 76 games last season with a broken right foot, had 15 points and 12 rebounds. Portland's Rasheed Wallace missed all 10 of his first-half shots and scored just 10 points on 2-for-17 shooting. He was 6-of-8 from the foul line. Notes: Pippen scored 15 points in the second quarter, hitting all five of his field-goal attempts and all three 3-pointers in the final 6:36 of the period. ... Golden State has lost 33 of its last 35 games dating to last winter. ... Wells' previous career high was 29 points, set twice against Indiana. Yankees' Derek Jeter rounds the bases after he hit the game-winning home run in the 10th inning. AP Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing