Holdahl: Blazers F LaMarcus Aldridge Says "I Wanted To Win This One For Wesley & Mo"

Casey Holdahl of Blazers.com with audio from a post-game interview with Portland Trail Blazers All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who finished with 30 points and 21 rebounds in 40 minutes during Portland's 113-101 road victory over the Golden State Warriors.

The Blazers closed the game on a 41-20 run following a third quarter scrum in which Mo Williams and Wesley Matthews were ejected. Aldridge discusses the team's response to the scrum as well as the state of the union now that Portland has extended its winning streak to 10 games.

Click here to listen. Here are a few excerpts.

Responding to fight

I thought guys came together, guys played tough. I thought we just all came together, put it all on our defense, became more aggressive offensively. I thought guys took on the challenge of being more physical down low, and it worked out for us tonight.

Big fourth quarter by Aldridge

[Matthews] sacrificed himself for me because when I got the one shot where they say I traveled and David Lee ran me over, he got the [technical foul] for me. Then after that the double tech got him kicked out, so I wanted to win this one for him and Mo, because those guys had my back.

State of the team

This is the most cohesive, selfless team I've been on. Guys playing for each other, guys laying it on the line. Everybody having everybody's back. Every quarter a different guy showing up and making big shots and making big plays. This team has been great all season.

Holdahl has more post-game audio over at ForwardCenter.net.

Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com has more from Aldridge in his post-game recap.

"I was hyped," Aldridge said of that run after the incident. "I was hyped because I saw my teammates had my back. I saw Wes go to war for me. I'm a very loyal guy. So when I see loyalty, it excites me. And in that moment, I saw every player on my team have my back.

"That made me go like, ‘These guys believe in me. These guys got my back. Let's do this.' It made me take my energy to another level. Even Earl [Watson] coming in, he didn't play in I don't know when. He told me we're going to you every time. No pick-and-roll. On the block. And then he came to me. That confidence and that belief in your teammates is just contagious. It made me give more energy."

Read the rest of Haynes' recap here.

Mike Tokito of The Oregonian has reaction from Blazers coach Terry Stotts right here.

"Obviously, the altercation kind of changed the complexion of the game," Stotts said. "I like the way we responded, I liked the way we stood up for each other, and I like the way we competed in the second half."

Tokito's gamer is here.

Here are some Aldridge highlights via YouTube user NBA.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter