After being benched by Blazers coach Maurice Cheeks, Damon Stoudamire decided to remain positive.

"I'm going to be bigger than this situation," Stoudamire said before Friday night's game in Atlanta. "I haven't always put myself in the best of situations since I have been here, but in every situation I have come out bigger and better.

"That's why I'm not really concerned about this. Yeah, I want to start. . . . But I'm not going to sit here and cry about it. I'm going to come out here and work. I ain't no quitter, never have been a quitter, and I ain't going to quit now."

Stoudamire made good on his promise Friday, playing as Nick Van Exel's backup. Stoudamire made all five of his shots from the field and had three assists and no turnovers in 18 minutes in the Blazers' 100-84 victory over the Hawks.

"This was one of Damon's best games, and I was glad he had a game like this at this time," Cheeks said. "It's always tough for a guy who is usually starting and then not starting, but for him to step in and do this and really contribute to our victory."