If you ask the Phoenix Suns, Portland is a leg up on the Los Angeles Lakers, the Trail Blazers' closest rivals.
"The Lakers may have bigger names and better talent as far as their starters, but the Blazers have no drop-off," the Suns' Tom Gugliotta said after Portland's 97-84 victory Thursday night in Portland. "Either way, the Blazers play better. They share the ball, and there's no strife out there."Sure, the Suns were worn out from Wednesday's 106-101 win over the Lakers. But the Blazers' defense, depth and rebounding were more responsible for taking the fight out of Phoenix.
"We've been able to shut down teams when we need to," Blazers coach Mike Dunleavy said.
Brian Grant had 22 points and 14 rebounds, leading Portland's 56-31 edge on the boards. Rasheed Wallace added 15 points and 13 rebounds.
"They killed us on the glass," Suns coach Danny Ainge said. "They wore us down tonight, and the Lakers wore us down last night, even though we won that one.
"I think the Lakers are more methodical and have perhaps better starters and good help coming off the bench. The Blazers are tough, though. They have good depth and good athletes. These guys can play."
In other NBA games, Orlando beat Cleveland 96-86, Houston downed Toronto 113-104 and San Antonio routed Denver 86-65.
The Blazers, winners of five straight and 15 of 17, have the NBA's best record (22-5) and home record (13-1). They also extended their lead in the Pacific to four games over the Lakers.
The two teams don't meet until April 13, but the weird scheduling could make for a more interesting stretch run before the playoffs. Three of the Blazers' last nine games will be against the Lakers, including two at the Great Western Forum.
The Blazers play at Phoenix on Sunday night, while the Suns head home against the Knicks tonight.
Portland took the lead for good midway through the third, but its 11-point lead was cut to five by the end of the period.
Then reserves Greg Anthony and Stacey Augmon put the Blazers back in control, scoring 11 of the team's first 12 points of the fourth quarter, giving Portland an 86-73 lead with 5:16 left.
After a jumper by Danny Manning made it 78-71 with 8:44 left, the Suns went 7:37 without a field goal until George McCloud's meaningless 3-pointer with 1:07 left.
Rex Chapman was ejected with 3:24 to go after receiving two technicals for wildly arguing a foul call. He shot just 2-of-11 and had seven points.
"Chapman is a guy who can take over a game, and we were fortunate to get him out of there at the end," Grant said. "But we know he'll be waiting for us Sunday."
Robinson scored 21 points, Manning added 17 and Jason Kidd had 13 points and eight assists for the Suns, who became the 11th straight opponent to shoot under 50 percent against Portland. In the fourth quarter of their last five games, the Blazers have given up 13, 17, 16, 15 and 15 points.
Damon Stoudamire, struggling with his shot most of the season and shooting just under 30 percent his previous five games, scored 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting and sparked a rally just before halftime.
"This could have been a breakout game for him," said teammate Isaiah Rider, who had just eight points on 3-of-15 shooting but defended Kidd well. "(Damon) has a lot of pride. He won't tell you he's down, but he's been feeling it. We try to stay together. We try to pick each other up."
SPURS 86, NUGGETS 65: Tim Duncan scored 28 points as San Antonio beat Denver for the ninth straight time.
David Robinson added 12 points and 13 rebounds for the visiting Spurs, who have won 12 of 13 after opening the season 6-8. Antonio McDyess scored 17 points for the Nuggets, who shot only 32 percent from the field.
ROCKETS 113, RAPTORS 104: Rookies Michael Dickerson and Cuttino Mobley combined for 54 points and 14 of Houston's club-record 17 3-pointers as Houston won its sixth straight.
Dickerson scored 28 points and Mobley added 26. Each player was 7-for-9 from long range.
Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon was ejected late in the third quarter after a flagrant foul on Charles Oakley. The visiting Raptors, who won six of their previous seven games. were led by Vince Carter's career-high 32 points.
MAGIC 96, CAVALIERS 86: At Orlando, Darrell Armstrong had 25 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals as the Magic defeated Cleveland.
Penny Hardaway added 14 points for the Magic, while Shawn Kemp led the Cavaliers with 22 points and 16 rebounds.