Trail Blazers 109, Timberwolves 94: Damian Lillard scored 24 points and J.J. Hickson added 18 and 16 rebounds as Portland easily dispatched visiting Minnesota.

Meyers Leonard collected 12 points and eight rebounds off the bench and Eric Maynor had a career-high 12 assists for the Trail Blazers, who won for the second time in their past 10 games.

Derrick Williams scored 23 points, Luke Ridnour had 18 and Ricky Rubio narrowly missed a triple-double with 12 points, nine rebounds and nine assists as the Timberwolves lost their fifth straight. Minnesota was without starters Andrei Kirilenko (calf) and Nikola Pekovic (abdomen) as its injury-plagued season continued.

Portland used an 11-2 run in the first quarter to take control and led 31-19 after the first quarter. The Blazers pushed the lead 39-25 on Hickson’s basket early in the second before settling for a 51-44 lead at the break.

Nicolas Batum’s 3-pointer with 8:55 left in the third pushed it back to double figures at 60-48, and Leonard’s jumper with just over eight minutes left in the fourth made it an 18-point gap and allowed Portland to cruise to the finish.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Minnesota went 1-for-12 from 3-point range. J.J. Barea, who scored 14 points, hit the lone 3-pointer. … Timberwolves C Greg Steimsma and F Mickael Gelabale started in place of Pekovic and Kirilenko and combined for four points and nine rebounds. … The Blazers improved to 19-10 at home. They are 8-21 away from the Rose Garden.