Damian Lillard scored 25 points (15 on 5 3-pointers), and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Phoenix Suns 121-105.
Lillard’s 31-foot step-back 3-pointer put the Trail Blazers ahead for good with 4:04 left in the third quarter.
Trevor Ariza scored a season-high 22 points (9 in the first quarter) with 5 3-pointers. CJ McCollum added 22 points, and Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points. The Trail Blazers had 4 20-point scorers.
For the Suns, Devin Booker had 29 points and 9 assists, and Aron Baynes went 1 for 7 from 3. Dario Saric had 24 points and 11 rebounds. Ricky Rubio had 21 points and 9 assists. Rubio scored 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter. The Suns had 3 20-point scorers.
The Trail Blazers shot 50.6% from the field and 48.6% from 3 to the Suns’ 40.2% and 34.4%. The Suns forced 11 turnovers, about 4 fewer than usual for this many possessions. The Trail Blazers’ starters outscored the Suns 80-64 in 25 minutes together.