PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Damian Lillard had 44 points and eight assists, and the Portland Trail Blazers overcame Kevin Durant’s 50 points to snap a seven-game losing streak to the Golden State Warriors with a 123-117 victory on Wednesday night.
CJ McCollum added 29 points for the Blazers, who go into the All-Star break six games over .500 (32-26).
Durant added seven rebounds and six assists, but Golden State had its three-game winning streak snapped. It was Durant’s fifth career 50-point game and first this season.
The Blazers led by as many as 20 points in the first half but the Warriors got within a point in the third quarter.
Klay Thompson’s 3-pointer narrowed it to 99-96 before Stephen Curry’s 3 tied it at 99 with 7:10 left.
The Warriors couldn’t get ahead and Lillard’s 3-pointer put Portland ahead 109-101 with 5:05 to play.
Durant’s 3-pointer closed Golden State within 114-111 but McCollum got a 3 for the Blazers on the other end with 2:15 left. Durant’s reverse layup and a pair of free throws cut the margin to 117-115 before Evan Turner’s free throws padded the lead for Portland.
JAZZ 107, SUNS 97
In Salt Lake City, the Utah Jazz survived another close game on Wednesday, pulling out a 107-97 victory over the Phoenix Suns for their 11th straight win after making the right plays at the right time on both ends of the court in the closing minutes.
THUNDER 121, GRIZZLIES 114
In Memphis, despite a 28-point performance from Paul George and another triple-double by Russell Westbrook, the Oklahoma City Thunder still needed a last-minute push to gain a win.
The Thunder almost squandered a 22-point, second-half lead before scoring the final six points to escape with a 121-114 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night. The win was only Oklahoma City’s third in the last nine.
