Oden has 20 points, 12 rebounds in another strong performance as Blazers beat Kings

Another strong game for Oden in Blazers’ win

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Greg Oden had 20 points and 12 rebounds in his second consecutive strong performance, leading the Portland Trail Blazers to an 89-86 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night in a preseason game.

Juwan Howard scored 14 points for the Blazers (2-0), Brandon Roy had 13, Jerryd Bayless 11 and Andre Miller added 10.

Kevin Martin made five 3-pointers and scored 28 points for the Kings (0-2). Rookie Tyreke Evans scored 14 points.

After averaging only 8.9 points in an injury-shortened rookie season, Oden had 18 points and nine rebounds in Tuesday’s preseason opener at home against the Kings. He was even better a night later against a Kings team without starting center Spencer Hawes, who was out with an ankle sprain. He shot 7 of 13 and made 6-of-7 free throws in 26 minutes.

A pull-up jumper by Beno Udrih followed by a fast-break dunk from rookie Omri Casspi pulled the Kings within 89-86 with 1:06 left. With a chance to send the game into overtime, Sergio Rodriguez missed a 3-pointer with a second remaining.

There were 41 fouls called in the opening half and 63 overall by the three replacement referees. Sacramento coach Paul Westphal was critical of the referees early in the opening quarter, angered over an off-the-ball foul against rookie Jon Brockman, who was being physical with Oden.

When Kings forward Jason Thompson picked up his third foul minutes into the second quarter, Westphal made his displeasure known again.

“Think you can call some more touch fouls?” Westphal said sarcastically, clearly annoyed with having two players with three fouls that early in the game.

The Kings’ first-round pick in June, Evans had a dazzling, off-balance reverse layup in traffic during the second quarter. Yet he also missed continually from the perimeter, an aspect of his game the Kings knew about when Evans was drafted as the fourth overall pick.

Oden showed some versatility in the opening quarter. He tipped in a shot, made a short jump hook, and also had a dunk in scoring eight points and getting six rebounds in just under eight minutes.

Martin, who shot 2-of-10 and had 12 points in Tuesday’s loss in Portland, scored 14 points in the third quarter.