Damian Lillard notched 32 points and 8 assists to help the Portland Trail Blazers post a 132-121 victory over the host Washington Wizards on Tuesday night, February 2 (Wednesday, February 3, Philippine time).
Gary Trent Jr matched his career high of 7 three-pointers while scoring 26 points for the Trail Blazers.
Portland’s Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points off the bench and moved into 13th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 26,675 points. Anthony passed the legendary Dominique Wilkins (26,668).
NBA scoring leader Bradley Beal of Washington made 6 three-pointers and poured in 37 points to raise his average to 35. Beal has scored at least 26 points in all 16 of his appearances this season.
Rui Hachimura scored a season-high 24 points on 10-of-12 shooting but couldn’t prevent the Wizards from losing for the eighth time in 10 games.
Russell Westbrook recorded 17 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for his 151st career triple-double.
Robert Covington added 19 points and 9 rebounds, Rodney Hood scored 15 points and Enes Kanter had 14 points and 15 rebounds for the Trail Blazers. Portland connected on 46.3% of its field-goal attempts, including 21-of-46 from three-point range, and made all 23 of its free-throw attempts.
Deni Avdija scored 13 points and Garrison Mathews had 11 for Washington, which shot 55.4% from the field, made 16-of-40 from three-point range and was 13-of-17 from the free-throw line.
Washington crept within 122-118 as Avdija drained a three-pointer with 4:05 left.
But Trent sank his seventh triple, Lillard drove the baseline for a thunderous dunk and Covington made two free throws as part of a 10-0 burst.
Lillard capped it by drilling a long three-pointer to make it 132-118 with 1:12 left as Portland put the game away.
Earlier, Washington scored 9 straight points to pull within 88-81 midway through the 3rd quarter before Portland responded with 4 consecutive three-pointers.
The last of the 4 came from Anthony with 3:46 left, the points that pushed him ahead of Wilkins.
The Trail Blazers led 106-90 entering the final stanza.
Trent scored 17 first-half points as the Trail Blazers held a 75-63 lead at the break. Beal had 19 for the Wizards.
Portland led by as many as 21 points in the opening quarter. – Rappler.com
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