Damian Lillard scored 41 points (17 in the third quarter), and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Orlando Magic 122-119.
Nassir Little’s 3-pointer put the Trail Blazers ahead for good with 35 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
The Magic had the ball down 3, but Paolo Banchero missed a 46-foot pull-up 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have tied it.
During clutch time, the Trail Blazers outscored the Magic 16-15. Lillard scored 10 of the Trail Blazers’ 16 on 1 for 4 shooting and 8 for 9 at the line.
Jerami Grant had 20 points and 7 assists.
For the Magic, Banchero scored 26 points (16 in the paint), and Franz Wagner added 24 points and 6 assists. Markelle Fultz had 15 points, 8 assists and 4 steals.
The Trail Blazers went 28 for 32 at the line to the Magic’s 24 for 31. The Magic got 6 offensive rebounds, about 4 fewer than usual for the shots they missed. They outscored the Trail Blazers 23-11 on the fast break.