BY MIKE ACKER>

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The Portland Trail Blazers (6-4) won the fourth quarter 23-12, to come from behind and beat the Minnesota Timberwolves (1-7) 88-83, Saturday night in front of 12,213 at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

The win was Nate McMillan’s 100th victory as Trail Blazers head coach. It was also Portland’s first road win against a Western Conference opponent.

Saturday’s game was one of ups and downs. Portland shot 63% from the field, 12-of-19, to end the first quarter leading 27-25. The production dropped off in the second period. The Trail Blazers made just four field goals on 18 attempts. Portland’s 14 points in the quarter matched their lowest point total in a quarter this season.

The Timberwolves entered halftime in front 51-41 on the strength of 10 made field goals from their bench.

The Trail Blazers began mounting their comeback in the third quarter. Portland won the period 24-20, after trailing by 12 in the opening minute of the quarter, to cut the Minnesota lead to six.

The fourth quarter belonged to Brandon Roy and Greg Oden. Oden, playing almost 24 minutes one night after his first career double-double, upped his career high to 13 points, shooting 4-of-8 from the field and 5-of-8 from the line. The rookie center also pulled down eight rebounds and blocked three shots.

Roy, who has been Portland’s go-to guy in fourth quarter this season, scored six of the Trail Blazer’s final nine points of the game. With 2:58 remaining in the fourth quarter, Roy dished to Oden in the paint for a two-handed throw-down. Oden’s dunk gave Portland the lead 81-79. The lead was Portland’s first since going ahead 27-25 in the first quarter.

With 52 seconds left in the game, Travis Outlaw tipped the ball away from Minnesota point guard Randy Foye. Roy scooped up the loose ball, and dunked two-handed on the other end of the floor, putting the Blazers up by three.

On the Timberwolves next possession Al Jefferson missed a short jump shot, and Outlaw pulled down the rebound. On the Trail Blazer’s final possession Outlaw hit a jump shot to seal the win with 15 seconds to go. Outlaw finished the night with eight points in 31 minutes.

Roy led the team in scoring for the seventh time of the season. He finished the night with 24 points on 9-of-18 from the field and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line.

LaMarcus Aldridge struggled with early foul trouble. Aldridge picked up his third foul with 29 seconds remaining in the first half. With 11:01 to go in the third quarter Aldridge picked up his fourth foul, and spent most of the second half on the bench. Aldridge finished the game with six points. It was only the second time in the season that Aldridge failed to reach double figures in scoring.

Joel Przybilla had another good night on the offensive end. He finished with 10 points and eight rebounds, shooting 4-of-5 from the field and 2-of-3 from the free-throw line.

The victory over Minnesota guaranteed the Trail Blazers a winning road-trip.

The Trail Blazer’s will be back on the road on Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors.