Lillard closed out a 33-point performance by helping Portland recover from a blown 20-point lead and emerge with a 117-112 victory over New Orleans on Friday night.
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New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) fails to keep a rebound away from Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) during the the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Friday, March 18, 2016.
In the fourth quarter, with the Blazers holding an eight-point lead, Lillard began driving the lane and dribbled by Perkins, who then stuck his arm out in an attempt to slow down Lillard. “I’m from Oakland, I’ve been punched before, I’ve been tackled before”.
The Blazers had a 93-81 lead over the Pelicans after three quarters.
Then after the Blazers came up with a defensive stop, Lillard slashed into the paint, drawing a foul and hitting two free throws to give Portland a 113-109 lead with 28.2 seconds remaining.
“I thought it was a dirty play”, Plumlee said. Lillard led the way over the first 24 minutes with 17 points, McCollum had 16 and Gerald Henderson added 14, all in the second quarter.
Pelicans: Anderson has scored 30 or more in a reserve role three times this season….
Russell Westbrook recorded his league-leading 13th triple-double with 20 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, and Kevin Durant had 26 points and 13 boards to lead Oklahoma City. Plumlee had 11 points, six rebounds, and four assists and hit 7-of-8 free throws.
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Suns 95, Lakers 90: LOS ANGELES – Brandon Knight scored nine of his 22 points in the fourth quarter after Phoenix almost blew a 19-point lead. Lou Williams scored 30 points off the bench for Los Angeles. Like that time he got Kobe Bryant tied up in a not-so-proverbial knot, forcing the Mamba to forcefully shove Perkins, which is a reaction players rarely get from Kobe, even when he’s physically provoked.
