Blazers hit the road to Golden State

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03/11/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hoping to keep their playoff aspirations alive, the Portland Trail Blazers will hit the road for back-to-back games starting with tonight's showdown against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena.

Portland is eighth in the Western Conference standings, just a game behind No. 7 San Antonio, and will also visit Sacramento on the road swing. The Blazers are 17-15 away from the Rose Garden, where they handed the Kings an 88-81 setback on Tuesday. Brandon Roy led the way with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Andre Miller had 14 points and five assists for Portland, which has won four of its last five games.

"We didn't dominate this game like we wanted to come out, but we'll take the win," Roy said. "We've got to continue to improve. I thought our defense got better, but offensively, we weren't very good tonight."

Miller is averaging 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.28 steals since January 2. LaMarcus Aldridge had 13 points and seven boards in the recent victory, and is posting 19.5 points and 8.4 rebounds in the last 28 games for a Portland defense allowing the fewest points per game (95.1) of any team in the conference.

The Blazers have held their opponents under 100 points in 46 games this season, the most by any team in the West, and have won 41 straight contests when keeping the opposition to 88 points or less, including an 18-0 mark in 2009-10.

Golden State is playing out the string and is still searching for its first win this month, having dropped every test of a recent five-game road trip. It has lost 11 in a row away from Oakland, including Monday's 135-131 decision at New Orleans Arena.

Anthony Morrow made all six of his three-point tries on his way to 28 points for the Warriors, who got a career-high 28 points from Reggie Williams. Corey Maggette and Devean George each had 18 points in a losing effort.

"I thought we played good defense," Williams said. "I thought where it killed us was on the boards. I didn't do a good job rebounding. That definitely didn't help."

The Warriors will commence a four-game homestand Thursday versus the Blazers, Raptors, Lakers and Hornets, and own a 13-18 home mark. In injury news for Golden State, leading scorer Monta Ellis, who is averaging 25.7 ppg, has missed six straight games with a back issue and is questionable for tonight. Also, head coach Don Nelson is still seven wins away from breaking Lenny Wilkins' all-time record of 1,332 victories.

Portland and Golden State have split a pair of matchups so far this season, with each team holding serve as the host, while the Warriors have won 13 of the previous 18 matchups between the clubs. The Blazers have lost nine in a row and 12 of their last 16 visits to Oakland.

Portland last won the series, a 4-0 sweep, in 2002-03.

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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