Aldridge leads Spurs to victory in return to Portland

LaMarcus Aldridge looked strange wearing the San Antonio Spurs jersey in his return to the Moda Center, but his performance was anything but.

After spending his first nine seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, Aldridge returned for the first time as an opponent and dropped a classic line of 23 points and six rebounds in helping the Spurs to a 113-101 victory.

Despite fleeing in free agency, fans in Portland treated Aldridge to a positive reception in his return. Much of that speaks to Aldridge's character - the 30-year-old spoke positively of his former team after changing addresses and looked at ease in his old stomping grounds. He took time to sign autographs and posed for photos with fans before the game.

As for the game itself, Aldridge was his usual self. He rained a smattering of mid-range jumpers and had a handful of scores in the post.

The Blazers managed to keep it close through three quarters before the Spurs shut the door in the fourth. Aldridge's 23 points were a team-high, while Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Danny Green, and Manu Ginobili all finished in double digits.

After the game, Aldridge was asked about the positive reception.

"It was nice," Aldridge told Chris Broussard on the ESPN broadcast. "I loved my nine years here. I wanted to win."

For the Blazers, the electric backcourt of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum stayed hot with 22 and 21 points apiece.

The game, however, was marred by a pair of scary moments. Blazers center Meyers Leonard sustained a separated shoulder during the third quarter, while San Antonio's Leonard took a nasty spill following a highlight dunk.

Fortunately for the Spurs, the 2014 Finals MVP escaped without a scratch. His team improved to 6-2 on the year, while the Blazers dropped to 4-5.