Lillard's game-winner helps Blazers sink Lakers again
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Damian Lillard's 3-point shot with .7 of a second left lifted the Portland Trail Blazers to a 113-110 win over the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday night at Moda Center.
Lillard scored 32 points and hit his game-winner after Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit a game-tying 3-pointer off an inbounds pass with 15.5 seconds remaining.
After Lillard's shot, rookie Kyle Kuzma's 3-point attempt went off the front of the rim.
Jusuf Nurkic had a season-high 28 and CJ McCollum added 22 for the Trail Blazers (5-4).
Brook Lopez led the Lakers (3-5) with 27 points and rookie Kuzma came off the bench for 22.
Los Angeles rallied from an 18-point deficit in the first half, trailed by four at halftime, took a six-point lead in the third before Portland carried an 87-85 edge into the final period.
A 13-6 spurt gave the Lakers a 98-93 advantage with 7:47 to go. Nurkic scored on back-to-back hook shots and McCollum followed with a 3-pointer to push Portland back in front 100-98 with 5:41 left.
Lopez made two free throws, then buried a trey for a 103-100 Laker lead.
Lillard and Lopez traded baskets, and McCollum's jumper cut the margin to 105-104 with 2:20 left.
After a turnover, Lillard converted a pair at the line for a 106-105 Portland lead with 1:57 remaining.
Kuzma scored on a driving hook to pull the Lakers back on top, but Lillard scored on a drive for a 108-107 lead with 49 seconds to go.
Nurkic sank a pair at the line to make Portland's lead 110-107 with 18 seconds on the clock, setting up the dramatic sequence.
NOTES: The Blazers extended their win streak over the Lakers to 13 games dating to March 2014. The Blazers have won seven straight at home in the series. ... Portland's 41-point first quarter was its highest-scoring quarter since the Blazers got 44 in a period against Indiana in December 2016. ... Portland was missing F Al Farouq Aminu (ankle). Portland coach Terry Stotts on Lakers rookie G Lonzo Ball: "He does a great job of running the team. I love his demeanor on the court. He reminds me a little bit of a young Jason Kidd. I really like his game. Ball entered the game shooting .333 from the field and .286 from 3-point range. He went scoreless on 0-of-2 shooting in 28:07. "He's a good shooter," Lakers coach Luke Walton said. "He shot for a good percentage in high school and college, and he'll shoot a good percentage in the NBA. It's early in his first year. The (3-point) line is a little further back. The game is a little longer. Games come more frequently. There are a whole lot of things you have to get used to. As he matures and gets more comfortable in this league, his numbers will go way up."