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Daily NBA Fix 2-9-14: Stunner In Salt Lake City

By Phil Watson

Feb 8, 2014; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Miami Heat small forward Shane Battier (31) defends against Utah Jazz power forward Marvin Williams (2) during the first half at EnergySolutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 8, 2014; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Miami Heat small forward Shane Battier (31) defends against Utah Jazz power forward Marvin Williams (2) during the first half at EnergySolutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 8, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) moves to the basket after a steal in the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Trail Blazers defeated the Wolves 117-110. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 8, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) moves to the basket after a steal in the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Trail Blazers defeated the Wolves 117-110. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports /

Portland Trail Blazers 117, MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 110
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 16 of his 26 points in the second half as the Trail Blazers took advantage of a short-handed Timberwolves team playing without three starters. Nikola Pekovic is still out with a bad ankle, Kevin Love sat out with a bruised quad and Kevin Martin is out indefinitely with a broken left thumb he sustained Friday night against New Orleans.

The T-wolves led 87-85 with 9:48 to go before Portland went on a 13-1 run to take control of the game.

Wesley Matthews scored 21 points, rookie C.J. McCollum had a career-high 19 points and Nicolas Batum added 15 points. Robin Lopez secured 11 rebounds and blocked four shots. Corey Brewer scored 26 points for Minnesota, Ricky Rubio added a career-high 25 and Chase Budinger tossed in 19. Ronny Turiaf had 13 rebounds and three blocks and Dante Cunningham had a double-double, posting 14 points and 10 boards.

DETROIT PISTONS 126, Denver Nuggets 109
Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith combined for 65 points and 20 assists and the Pistons ran past the injury-plagued Nuggets, who lost point guard Ty Lawson to a fractured rib late in the first half.

Jennings finished with 35 points and 12 assists, while Smith went for 30 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and four steals. Rodney Stuckey scored 19 and Andre Drummond had 18 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks. Randy Foye led the Nuggets with 25 points, Wilson Chandler scored 20 and J.J. Hickson had 15 points and 16 boards.