PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 30 -- Brian Grant scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds Tuesday, as the Portland Trail Blazers won their fourth straight game with a 96-86 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Kelvin Cato, who made his first NBA start, notched career-highs with 14 points and nine rebounds and added seven blocked shots for Portland, which is 10-5 at home this season.
Philadelphia has lost eight of its last nine games, and has not reached the century mark during that span. Portland sealed the game early in the fourth quarter. The Blazers led 73-68 after three quarters and started the fourth with a 9-0 run. Alvin Williams contributed four points in the burst that put Portland in front 82-68 with 8:59 to play. The 76ers would get no closer than nine points the rest of the way. The Blazers led 42-34 with 5 minutes 31 seconds remaining in the first half, but the 76ers went on an 11-5 run to cut Portland's lead down to two points. The Blazers led 48-45 at halftime. The game was tied at 56-56 in the third quarter, but Portland scored the next seven points to grab a 63-56 advantage with 5:07 left in the quarter. Rasheed Wallace had four points in the spurt. Allen Iverson led the 76ers with 21 points and eight assists. Philadelphia played without forward Derrick Coleman, who was suspended for this game and the next one for his fight with Sacramento's Corliss Williamson on Sunday.
