Bucks 90, Trail Blazers 88
MILWAUKEE -- John Henson blocked Meyers Leonard's shot at a possible game-winner giving the Milwaukee Bucks a 90-88 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers Monday night.
Henson's final stand capped off a furious rally for the Bucks, who watched a 14 point lead disappear in the second half and fell behind by six late in the final quarter.
But shooting guard O.J. Mayo's 3-pointer with 16 seconds to play made it a one-point game and after C.J. McCollum lost the ball out of bounds, the Bucks won a jump ball and went up, 89-88, when center Greg Monroe hit a layup with 5 seconds left.
Portland called for a time out to set up the inbounds play, which found Leonard open in the lane. Henson charged and got the block.
Officials reviewed the play and called a foul on Portland's Ed Davis, which sent guard Michael Carter-Williams to the line, where he hit one of two, to end the game.
Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 17 points while Monroe added 16 with 12 rebounds.
Mayo, in the starting lineup for a second straight game, knocked down three 3-pointers and finished with 15 points for the Bucks, who shot 41 percent and committed 17 turnovers but held the Trail Blazers to 38 percent shooting and eight of 34 on 3-point attempts.
Portland point guard Damien Lillard scored 15 of his team-leading 23 points in the second half, including 10 in the third quarter as the Trail Blazers erased a nine-point halftime deficit with a 10-3 run.
Defensively, Portland held the Bucks to just four field goals and forced Milwaukee into seven turnovers.
Five straight points by guard Khris Middleton -- including Milwaukee's second 3-pointer of the game -- put the Bucks up by six with 5:51 to play but again, the Blazers had a response, ripping off a 13-2 run to go back up by five with two minutes to play.
Portland had won two straight coming into the game.
NOTES: Entering play Monday, the Blazers' bench was averaging 53.0 points in four games since F/C Meyers Leonard moved out of the starting lineup. Leonard averaged 13.3 points per game on 47 percent shooting during that stretch. ... Milwaukee was still without G Greivis Vasquez and G Jerryd Bayless due to ankle injuries, so O.J. Mayo made his second consecutive start at point guard, while Michael Carter-Williams remained in a bench role. Mayo had a season-best five assists in 35 minutes Saturday, when he handled the bulk of Milwaukee's ball-handling duties. ... The Bucks began the night 1-10 this season when their opponent scored 100 or more points. ... Portland coach Terry Stotts led the Bucks from 2005-07 and served as an assistant to George Karl in Milwaukee from 1998-2002.