Middleton, Bucks finish strong in Portland
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Khris Middleton had 26 points and the Milwaukee Bucks scored the final six points in a 93-90 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night at Moda Center.
Giannis Antetokounmpo added 22 points and eight rebounds for the Bucks (35-35), who won for the ninth time in their last 11 games.
Damian Lillard scored 31 points for the Trail Blazers (32-38), who lost for only the third time in 11 outings.
Milwaukee spotted Portland an early nine-point lead, then dominated the rest of the first half, taking a 13-point advantage into intermission.
Antetokounmpo and Middleton each scored 15 points for the Bucks while Lillard had 11 points and McCollum 10 for the Blazers.
Milwaukee led 63-49 when Portland went on a 14-4 run to draw within 67-63 after three quarters.
The Bucks' edge was 80-73, but the Blazers closed it to 85-84 on Allen Crabbe's 3-pointer with 4:54 left, then went ahead 88-85 on a pair of driving layups by McCollum.
Antetokounmpo's follow shot made it 88-87 with 3:27 remaining, but Lillard's jumper pushed Portland back on top 90-87. Then the Bucks scored six in a row, the last two on a follow by John Henson, to take a 93-90 lead with 1:39 remaining.
Lillard missed on a drive, but the Bucks knocked the ball out of bounds, and the Blazers got the ball with 6.4 seconds to play. Lillard's 3-pointer just before the horn sounded missed, and the Bucks prevailed.
Portland jumped to an 8-0 lead and increased the difference to 17-8. The Blazers took a 21-18 advantage into the second quarter.
Milwaukee scored the first seven points of the second period to go ahead 25-21. The Bucks built the lead to 48-35 at the half.
NOTES: Portland G Damian Lillard played his first game since being honored as Western Conference Player of the Week. Lillard scored a league-high 35.3 points while shooting .551 from the field and .594 from 3-point range and was 36 for 36 at the foul line as the Blazers won three of four games last week. In a Sunday win at Miami, he matched the franchise record by making nine 3-point shots. "Maybe the best shooting night of his career," Portland coach Terry Stotts said. ... Lillard missed two straight free throws in the first quarter, snapping a streak of 48 consecutive makes at the line. That is tied for third most in franchise history. ... The Blazers play 10 of their final 13 games at home. ... Portland native F Terrence Jones has played in only one game since signing a free-agent contract with the Bucks on March 4.