SAN ANTONIO — Damian Lillard scored a career high 43 points as Portland beat San Antonio 129-119 in triple overtime Friday, sending the Spurs to their second-straight heartbreaking triple overtime loss. The reigning NBA champion Spurs also lost in multiple overtimes 117-116 to the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 32 and the Trail Blazers pulled away in the third overtime to top the Spurs by 10 points in front of a crowd of 18,581 at the AT&T Center arena. “I just kept attacking. That has always been my favorite time of the game when everything is on the line,” Lillard said. Lillard hit game-tying three-pointers in regulation and the first overtime and scored nine of Portland's 17 points in the third overtime as the Blazers crafted their fourth-straight win. “I was really proud of the way we kept competing,” said Portland coach Terry Stotts. “Obviously it helps to make some big shots, but there was a lot of trust in moving the ball.” Cory Joseph hit a game-tying shot in the second overtime for San Antonio, which became the first NBA team in 63 years to play in consecutive three-overtime games. The 1951-52 Baltimore Bullets split their contests. San Antonio was missing NBA finals MVP Kawhi Leonard and guard Tony Parker with injuries. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said his team tried to tough it out but couldn't keep up in the final overtime. “We are wearing some guys down. They did a great job under tough circumstances,” Popovich said. The Spurs have now lost three straight games, their longest slide since they lost three in a row in January. Tim Duncan had a season-high 32 points and Danny Green added 27 for the Spurs, who lost despite starting the first two overtimes on 6-0 runs. In the first overtime, they scored just one more point over the next two and a half minutes. Lillard's tying three-pointer came after Wesley Matthews missed a shot from beyond the arc and Aldridge got the rebound and passed it back to Lillard at the point. Thunder 104, Lakers 103: Point guard Russell Westbrook scored 31 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder edged the Los Angeles Lakers despite playing without the injured Kevin Durant, who rested a sprained ankle. Kobe Bryant missed a game-winning jumper for the Lakers.
Cavaliers 95, Nets 91: LeBron James scored 22 points and moved into 23rd spot on the all-time NBA scoring list and the Cleveland Cavaliers squeezed by the Brooklyn Nets. None of Cleveland's stars lit it up offensively but the Cavs did just enough to bounce back from what coach David Blatt termed an “embarrassing” 29-point home loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Bulls 103, Grizzlies 97: Guard Jimmy Butler posted a double-double with 31 points and 10 rebounds as the Chicago Bulls became just the second team to beat the Memphis Grizzlies at home this season. Rookie forward Nikola Mirotic scored a career-high 27 points off the bench for the Bulls (17-9), who won without guard Derrick Rose (ill). Nuggets 109, Clippers 106: Forward Wilson Chandler scored seven of his 16 points late in the fourth quarter, and the Denver Nuggets rallied after blowing a big halftime lead to beat the Los Angeles Clippers and end a three-game losing streak. Wizards 105, Heat 103: Power forward Nene came off the bench to score 20 points and the Washington Wizards won their sixth straight game when they beat Miami, sending the Heat to their five consecutive home loss, their longest skid since March, 2008. Other results: Raptors 110, Pistons 100; Celtics 114, Timberwolves 98; Hornets 109, 76ers 91; Jazz 101, Magic 94. — Agencies
