Blazers get key tiebreaker with win over Lakers

PORTLAND, Oregon: Damian Lillard had 38 points to lead Portland to a 106-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday (Saturday in Manila) that gave the Trail Blazers the tiebreaker over its Western Conference foe as the season winds to a close.

Lillard had five 3-pointers for the Blazers, which was back at home after going 5-1 on a six-game trip. The team was welcomed back to Portland with fans allowed at the Moda Center for the first time this season.

Anthony Davis had 36 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, which was without LeBron James for the third straight game. Los Angeles has lost eight of its last 10 games.

The Lakers and the Blazers were both 37-29 heading into the game, but the Lakers held sixth in the Western Conference because the series between the two teams was tied 1-1 and Los Angeles had the tiebreaker with a better record against conference teams.

With the win, Portland moved into sixth, a game up on Los Angeles, and also secured the tiebreaker. Both teams were trying to earn a playoff spot outright with just five games left in the regular season.

Markieff Morris’ tip shot got the Lakers to 89-85 with 7:21 left in the game, but Lillard answered with a 3-pointer for Portland.

Davis’ 3 and Alex Caruso’s layup narrowed it to 94-90 for the Lakers, and again, Lillard hit a 3 in response.

Portland went up 100-90 after CJ McCollum’s 3-pointer. Davis made a series of free throws before a tip-in that closed the Lakers within 5. He added another pair of free throws to make it 100-97 with 1:10 left, but the Lakers couldn’t catch up.

Los Angeles was coming off a 118-94 loss to the rival Clippers on Thursday. Davis did not play after the first quarter because of back spasms, but he started against the Blazers.

But the Lakers remained without four-time league Most Valuable Player James, who has missed two games while he recovers from a high ankle sprain.