Blazers top Spurs behind Lillard’s 36
The Portland Trail Blazers did not have a team meeting or scream at one another after being blown out by 23 points the night before in New Orleans. The compacted NBA schedule makes it necessary to forget quickly.
Damian Lillard scored 36 points and the Trail Blazers defeated the San Antonio Spurs 110-106 on Wednesday night, spoiling LaMarcus Aldridge’s return from a health scare and knocking San Antonio a game behind the Warriors for the league’s best record.
C.J. McCollum added 26 points for Portland.
“That had to be probably our best win of the year,” Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. “To beat a team like San Antonio on the road. Not only that, but how we won. I thought it was one of our better games as far as staying focused throughout the game.”
Aldridge returned after missing two games with a minor heart arrhythmia. He was cleared Wednesday morning and does not have any playing restrictions. He had 19 points and seven rebounds, including nine points in the final quarter.
Kawhi Leonard had 34 points to lead San Antonio (52-15), which had won 11 of 12.
Bucks 97, Clippers 96: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton each scored 16 points to lead six Milwaukee players in double figures as the Bucks beat the Clippers in Los Angeles. Blake Griffin’s last-second shot rolled off the rim. DeAndre Jordan had 22 points and 17 rebounds for the Clippers.
Rockets 139, Lakers 100: Lou Williams scored 30 points against his former team and James Harden had his 17th triple-double of the season to lead host Houston. Harden had 18 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds as Houston handed Los Angeles its 11th loss in 12 games. Williams broke out of a recent shooting slump against his ex-teammates. Houston sent Corey Brewer and a first-round draft pick to Los Angeles in a trade for Williams three weeks ago. Brewer had four points in 21 minutes.
Kings 107, Suns 101: Rookie Skal Labissiere scored 21 of his career-high 32 points in the fourth quarter, a breakout performance that lifted visiting Sacramento. The 6-foot-11 Haitian, who spent much of the season with the Reno Bighorns of the Development League, scored the first 16 Sacramento points of the final quarter. The 28th overall pick in the draft out of Kentucky, Labissiere played only 52 minutes for the Kings before the All-Star break. T.J. Warren scored 24 for Phoenix, which rested Eric Bledsoe for the night. Celtics 117, Timberwolves 104: Isaiah Thomas scored 27 points and Al Horford added 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for host Boston, which increased its lead to 11⁄2 games over the Washington Wizards for the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Ricky Rubio had a season-high 23 points to lead Minnesota.
Grizzlies 98, Bulls 91: Mike Conley and Marc Gasol each scored 27 points — and combined to score 18 of the team’s 24 points in the fourth quarter — as visiting Memphis sent Chicago to its sixth loss in seven games. Memphis, which had lost five straight before winning Monday, won its second straight. The Bulls were without Dwyane Wade down the stretch after he injured his right elbow with 8:34 remaining and did not return. Rajon Rondo scored 17 points to lead Chicago.
Jazz 97, Pistons 83: Gordon Hayward scored 25 points and George Hill added 17 for visiting Utah. Hayward added eight rebounds and six assists. Utah won for the sixth time in seven games. Aron Baynes had 12 points and 12 rebounds for Detroit.
Heat 120, Pelicans 112: Goran Dragic played through a black eye and bloodied mouth — injuries from a game last week — to score 33 points and Hassan Whiteside had 20 points and 17 rebounds for host Miami. Anthony Davis scored 27 points and DeMarcus Cousins added 19 for New Orleans.
Mavericks 112, Wizards 107: Dirk Nowitzki scored 10 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, Harrison Barnes finished with 22 and visiting Dallas boosted its slim playoff hopes. Washington guard John Wall had 26 points and 11 assists despite briefly leaving the game in the second quarter with a sprained left foot, and Bradley Beal added 24 points.
Pacers 98, Hornets 77: Paul George made six three-pointers and finished with 39 points to lead host Indiana. Frank Kaminsky led Charlotte with 20 points.