(Sports Network) - Brandon Roy scored 23 points and doled out five assists to lead the streaking Portland Trail Blazers past the New York Knicks, 104-97. Rudy Fernandez added 18 points off the bench for the Blazers, who have won five straight overall. LaMarcus Aldridge and Travis Outlaw scored 17 and 16, respectively. Steve Blake ended with 15 points and six assists.

Chris Duhon scored a season-high 23 points and dished out 13 assists for the Knicks, who have dropped six of their last eight games. David Lee had 19 points and 12 boards in defeat, while Al Harrington had 16 points and Tim Thomas 14.

Late in the fourth, Portland's lead hovered around 10 points until an Anthony Roberson three-pointer cut into it with about 1 1/2 minutes left.

New York had a chance to shave more points off as Roy missed a layup on the ensuing Portland possession, but Wilson Chandler's three caromed off the rim. After the Blazers grabbed the rebound, Fernandez dropped in a layup to make it a nine-point differential with 35 ticks left. The Knicks got no closer than the final margin.

"I don't think the ball moved quite as well in the second half," Lee said. "It's just something we have to focus on when we're out there."

Even though the Knicks missed their first five shots of the game, the club had a 31-24 lead following the opening frame.

Lee tipped in a missed three-pointer from Harrington at the buzzer to give the Knicks a 51-49 edge at the intermission.

A Duhon three-pointer tied the game at 62 with about seven minutes left in the third quarter.

The teams traded baskets the rest of the third and New York led, 75-71, heading into the fourth frame.

Fernandez's three-pointer set the tone for 10 consecutive points from the visitors to open the fourth quarter. Fernandez also capped the surge with a three to make it 81-75 Portland with 9:37 left in the game.

Moments later, a three-point play from Chandler brought New York within three points. However, Roy poured in a jumper and Sergio Rodriguez added five straight points to up the Blazers' lead to 90-80 with 5:39 showing on the clock.

"We just got to close cats (teams) out, we're always there in the fourth quarter," said Roy. "We got cats (players) grindin' and cats pushin', we just got to trust ourselves."

Game Notes

It was Duhon's second straight double-double and fourth of the season...New York fell to 0-6 when not scoring 100 points and dropped to 8-2 when leading after the third quarter...New York was outrebounded 54-36...New York is 6-4 in the Big Apple this season...Disgruntled Knicks guard Stephon Marbury was told to stay away from the team until his contract situation can be worked out. Marbury, who is being paid $21.7 million this season and is in the final year of his contract, was suspended for one game, without pay, for refusing to play in last Wednesday's game against Detroit. Marbury is seeking a possible buyout and has not played this season under new head coach Mark D'Antoni...Portland went 2-0 against the Knicks last season and has won four straight and six of the past eight meetings. It has won three in a row at MSG.



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