Trail Blazers Have Plenty in Reserve

Bonzi Wells figures it was a lack of respect that allowed him to score 26 points Sunday in the Portland Trail Blazers’ 110-102 overtime victory over the Orlando Magic at Orlando, Fla.

Wells had 20 points after the third quarter as Orlando went to double-team Rasheed Wallace, who had a season-high 37 points, including 26 in the first half.

On a team that features Wallace, Scottie Pippen, Dale Davis, Steve Smith and Damon Stoudamire in the starting lineup, Wells will happily take what he can get as a reserve.

Wells played 31 minutes, making 10 of 13 field goals and tying Stoudamire for the team lead with nine rebounds. He also had four steals and two blocked shots.

“We got so many top players and I’m probably one of the least respected ones, so I tried to sneak up and make some big plays,� Wells said. “I didn’t go in there thinking I was going to do a lot of scoring. I wanted it to start with my defense. If I play a lot of defense, my offense will come and it did.�

Wallace made 12 of 20 shots, including four of five three-pointers, and nine of 10 free throws. He also contributed seven rebounds, six assists and a season-high five blocked shots.

John Amaechi led five Orlando players in double figures with 27 points. Tracy McGrady had 24 and eight rebounds in 50 minutes, Darrell Armstrong scored 14 points and Pat Garrity had 13.

New York 88, Golden State 71--Larry Johnson took advantage of the absence of two of the NBA’s top three rebounders and grabbed 16 boards to lead the Knicks at New York.

Latrell Sprewell scored 22 points, while Kurt Thomas started at center in place of Marcus Camby, the league’s third-leading rebounder who was out with a sprained ankle. Thomas added a season-high 17 points.

Glen Rice added 11 for New York, including a pair of three-pointers during a 13-0 fourth-quarter run that clinched the Knicks’ second win in a row.

Golden State was without Danny Fortson, who leads the NBA with an average of 16.3 rebounds per game. Fortson missed the Warriors’ four-game road trip with a sore right foot.

Charlotte 105, Detroit 96--Baron Davis set career bests of 25 points and 10 rebounds to help the Hornets snap a five-game losing streak with a victory at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Davis also added eight assists, a career-best seven steals and seven turnovers.

Elden Campbell had 19 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, and 12 rebounds, while Jamal Mashburn and David Wesley had 17 points each.