"The question wasn't about the margin of victory in the Trail Blazers' 109-71 excoriation of Phoenix Friday night at the Rose Garden.

It was this: How could Portland lose 102-77 to the same opponent Jan. 6 at U.S. Airways Center?

Gerald Wallace used the last meeting between the teams as motivation for what turned out to be a 63-point swing.

The Suns had "embarrassed us in their hometown," the Blazer forward said. "We were coming off an emotional win (over the Los Angeles Lakers) on a back-to-back and they hammered it to us in an ugly game.

"We wanted to return the favor, let them know we weren't the same team they played at home. It was more of a statement game for us."

LaMarcus Aldridge said that wasn't it at all.

"Not for me," the Blazer forward said. "We just needed a win. More than what happened the last time, we wanted to take care of the homecourt and keep getting better."

The 38-point difference was the most one-sided victory ever for Portland in its 42-year rivalry with the Suns. The previous biggest margin was 29 in a 133-104 win in March 1987. It was the third-worst defeat in franchise history for the Suns and the fewest points they've ever scored against the Blazers.

After the first quarter — Phoenix led 24-21 at that point — the Blazers (12-8) were pretty good. The Suns (6-12) were so bad, it was laughable.

They scored nine points in the second quarter. They tallied a dozen in the third quarter. By that time, Portland led 78-45, and coach Nate McMillan — never one to empty his bench early — had given all of his starters but Wesley Matthews the night off."