Drexler-Led Portland Stops Cavs

Whether or not he gets the trade he wants, Clyde Drexler plans on showing up for work and doing his job, just like always.

Just like Friday night.

Drexler had 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists as the Portland Trail Blazers overcame a sluggish start in Cleveland and beat the Cavaliers 87-77.

Drexler has said he’d like to be traded to a contender, and the reported trade to Seattle for Kendall Gill would seem to suit him perfectly.

Despite the uncertainty, Portland won for the fourth time in five games while stopping Cleveland’s three-game winning streak. The Cavs were without injured point guards Mark Price and Terrell Brandon, and they lost starting forward Chris Mills after he sprained his left thumb in the second quarter.

X-rays on Mills’ thumb were negative.

Drexler helped Portland break the game open by combining with Rod Strickland and Clifford Robinson to score 16 points during a decisive 20-2 run in the third quarter. Robinson had six points during the flurry, Drexler and Strickland five each.

Strickland scored 18 and Chris Dudley grabbed 14 rebounds for Portland, which won despite missing its first eight shots and spotting Cleveland a 12-0 lead at the start. Robinson scored 12 points - 10 under his average - on 4-of-17 shooting.

Trail Blazers 87, Cavaliers 77 Cleveland PORTLAND (87)

C.Robinson 4-17 4-6 12, B.Williams 3-6 5-5 11, Dudley 2-4 3-4 7, Strickland 7-15 2-4 18, Drexler 8-17 3-3 20, Grant 1-6 2-2 4, Kersey 2-10 0-0 4, Henson 0-0 4-4 4, J.Robinson 2-5 0-0 5, Murray 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 30-81 23-28 87.

CLEVELAND (77)

Mills 1-6 2-2 4, Hill 3-13 3-6 9, J.Williams 7-13 0-0 14, Colter 2-6 0-0 4, Phills 4-16 2-3 10, Cage 2-3 0-0 4, Campbell 1-7 0-2 2, Battle 3-7 2-4 11, Ferry 5-9 0-0 12, Dreiling 0-1 2-2 2, Bennett 1-1 3-4 5.Totals 29-82 14-23 77.

Portland 18 18 28 23 - 87 Cleveland 20 17 11 29 - 77

3-Point goals-Portland 4-9 (Strickland 2-2, J.Robinson 1-1, Drexler 1-4, C.Robinson 0-2), Cleveland 5-17 (Battle 3-5, Ferry 2-5, Mills 0-2, Phills 0-2, Colter 0-3). Fouled out- None. Rebounds-Portland 57 (Dudley 14), Cleveland 61 (Hill 12). Assists-Portland 19 (Strickland, Drexler 6), Cleveland 21 (Colter 6). Total fouls-Portland 19, Cleveland 22. Technicals-Hill 2. Ejection-Hill. A-20,562.