Lillard and the Trail Blazers steal a victory in Phoenix, 106-104

Damian Lillard hits a tough, last-second layup to win it for the Portland Trail Blazers, completing a four-game season sweep against the Phoenix Suns in dramatic fashion.

After Friday night’s impressive and inspiring victory against the Utah Jazz, it would have been natural for the Portland Trail Blazers to have a bit of a letdown one night later against the lowly Phoenix Suns. After all, Portland had already beaten the Suns three times this season, including a historic, season-opening 124-76 beatdown back on Oct. 18.

Letdown?

Um, yeah, no.

It was, in fact, one of the Blazers’ more inspiring wins of the season. Portland (34-26) came back from 15 points down thanks to an MVP-type performance from Damian Lillard. He scored 19 of his game-high 40 points in the fourth quarter to lead Portland to a 106-104 victory.

Yeah, it was against the Suns (18-43). But a win is a win. There are no easy victories on the road in the NBA. And the Blazers need everything to go right in order for them to finish in the top half of the Western Conference come playoff time.

And when you have Lillard, a lot can go right, even when things look very, very wrong.

A few highlights.

FIRST HALF

The Blazers went up 4-0 less than 25 seconds into the game, thanks to a steal by Maurice Harkless sandwiched between two dunks by Harkless and Al-Farouq Aminu.

The Suns player to watch was Devin Booker, who seems to light up the stat sheet against the Blazers. And true to form, he had six points on 2-for-2 three-point shooting early, helping the Suns to an early 15-12 lead. But the Trail Blazers held Booker scoreless in the second quarter. Booker would finish the game with 30 points and nine rebounds.

Portland got off to a rough start from three.

As in the Utah game, the Blazers were getting contributions from up and down the lineup.

The Blazers’ continuing lack of three-point accuracy (just 1-of-10 through the first quarter and a half) kept the game not only close, but relatively low-scoring. With 6:51 left in the half, Portland was up by just one point, 38-37.

That poor three-point shooting became the theme of the game.

SECOND HALF

The Blazers opened up a 10-point lead early in the third quarter. But the Suns quickly erased it, going on a 14-1 run to take a three-point lead.

Ugly start to the second half, for sure.

Really ugly.

The Suns not only erased a 10-point deficit, they took a 14-point lead, 81-67 with 1:09 left in the third.

But the Blazers restored order at the beginning of the final quarter, going on a 9-0 run to pull within five points, 81-76.

But then this happened:

This was awesome, though:

Then it got exciting and frustrating, just like you would expect from this crazy Trail Blazers season.

With less than a minute left, Booker got all the way to the rim to give Phoenix a two-point lead.

But Lillard – again! – tied the game with a jumper, 104-104. Phoenix called a timeout with 20.6 left in the game. But then Phoenix failed to get the ball in bounds. (Suns gonna Sun!)

And then it was Lillard Time.

FINAL SCORE: Trail Blazers 106, Suns 104

Next up for Portland: Tuesday at home against the Sacramento Kings.

Next: Damian Lillard having arguably his best season yet.

TAKEAWAYS

No. 1

Lillard did not break the Trail Blazers record for consecutive free throws made (57). He missed his first attempt of the night to halt his streak at 54. (Still a personal record.)

No. 2

No. 3 (courtesy of Quick)