Portland blazes into Milwaukee

This is the first of two meetings this season between the clubs. Portland is scheduled to host the Bucks on January 21st at the Rose Garden.

Portland has won five of seven and six of its last nine as the visitor against the Bucks. The Trail Blazers are 13-37 at Milwaukee. These teams have split the last four contests in the series.

The Trail Blazers try to win back-to-back games this evening. On Tuesday, Zach Randolph drained a go-ahead short bank shot over Tayshaun Prince with 21 seconds left, then Richard Hamilton missed two three-pointers in the final three seconds as Portland stunned the Detroit Pistons, 88-85, at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Randolph led all scorers with 31 points and 13 rebounds, while rookie LaMarcus Aldridge recorded his first career double-double with 11 points and 11 boards in the win over Detroit for the Blazers.

Portland is 3-6 on the road this season. The Trail Blazers will also play the Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers and Memphis Grizzlies on the trip.

Milwaukee tries to get back on the winning track, as it plays the first of a two-game homestand this evening. On Monday, Carlos Boozer scored 30 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to power the Utah Jazz to a 101-88 win over the Bucks at EnergySolutions Arena.

Charlie Bell was 4-for-9 from beyond the arc and ended with 23 points in the loss to Utah for Milwaukee, which has dropped two of its last three games overall. Michael Redd scored 18 for the Bucks, who shot a miserable 38.1 percent from the field and were outrebounded, 48-34.

The Bucks are 2-4 at the Bradley Center this season. They will host the Grizzlies on Friday in the finale of the current stand.