Lillard, Portland top Booker-less Phoenix

Damian Lillard scored 27 points, including a crucial three-point play with 26 seconds left, and the Portland Trail Blazers bounced back from a 16-point deficit in the first half to beat the Phoenix Suns 111-110 on Monday night.

With Portland trailing 110-108, Lillard drove straight through the lane and made a layup while crashing into Aron Baynes, who was called for a blocking foul. Lillard hit the free throw to make it 111-110, and Phoenix couldn’t score on its final possession as Ricky Rubio’s 3-point attempt bounced off the rim with two seconds left.

CJ McCollum led the Blazers with 30 points.

Portland led for most of the fourth quarter but Phoenix pulled ahead 110108 with 32 seconds left when Kelly Oubre Jr. converted a four-point play. He took an inbounds pass from Rubio and nailed a 3-pointer while being fouled, then hit the free throw.

Oubre led Phoenix with 24 points. Dario Saric and Frank Kaminsky III both added 17 for the Suns, who played a second straight game without star guard Devin Booker because of his right forearm injury.

Portland has won 11 straight against the Suns. The Blazers trailed 49-33 midway through the second quarter but methodically worked their way back into the game.

Portland pulled ahead for the first time midway through the third when McCollum’s 3-pointer made it 82-80. The Blazers took a 90-88 advantage into the fourth quarter.

Carmelo Anthony, who scored 23 points, hit a 3 to put the Blazers ahead 100-97 with seven minutes left. The 35-year-old Anthony also made a turnaround jumper over Oubre with less than three minutes remaining that pushed Portland’s advantage to six.

Hassan Whiteside added 10 points and 14 rebounds for the Blazers.