NW Sports from the AP

AP-NW–1st SportsMinute,222
Here is the latest Washington, Oregon and Alaska sports news from
The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – LaMarcus Aldridge had 25 points and seven
rebounds and the Portland Trail Blazers opened their season with a
107-103 win over the Philadelphia 76ers last night. Gerald Wallace
added 21 points and nine rebounds for the Blazers, who let an early
lead slip away but regained the upper hand in the second half by
going small and picking up the pace. Wesley Mathews added 16. Lou
Williams had 25 points for the Sixers.

RENTON, Wash. (AP) – Pete Carroll says even though the Seattle
Seahawks are eliminated from the NFC playoffs, they don’t intend on
changing their approach heading into the season finale at Arizona.
Carroll says Seattle wants to finish second in the NFC West and end
the season with a better record than 2010, even if the Seahawks
aren’t playoff bound. Seattle’s slim playoff hopes were dashed on
Saturday during a 19-17 loss to San Francisco.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) – Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III is
getting help in dealing with his new fame. The Baylor QB says he’s
sometimes shadowed by security since being honored earlier this
month as the nation’s best college football player. A Baylor
spokesman clarified that an athletic department employee follows
Griffin in public to minimize demands for autographs and pictures.
Baylor plays Washington in the Alamo Bowl on Thursday.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-12-27-11 0531EST