PORTLAND, Ore. — Guard Damian Lillard scored 19 points as the Portland Trail Blazers broke open a close game at halftime en route to a 109-86 victory over the Phoenix Suns Monday night at the Moda Center.
Forward LaMarcus Aldridge added 17 points and seven rebounds for the Trail Blazers (48-25), who won their fourth straight game. Forward Nicolas Batum and guard Arron Afflalo each had 16 points for Portland, which clinched a playoff berth in the NBA’s Western Conference.
Guard Gerald Green came off the bench to score 13 points for the Suns (38-37), who lost for the fourth straight time.
Portland shot .512 from the field, sinking 12 of 27 attempts from 3-point range (.444) and won the rebound battle 47-38. Phoenix shot .437 from the field but made only 3 of 16 shots from beyond the arc.
Green sparked a late Phoenix run to get the Suns to within 55-49 at halftime. Green and Morris each scored 11 points in the half for the Suns, who trailed by 16 points late in the second quarter.
Portland outscored Phoenix 37-16 in the third quarter to blow things open.
The Blazers scored the first seven points of the second half to move back in front 62-49. Aldridge’s dunk made it 77-55 with 6:40 left in the third quarter. The difference was 90-61 with 2:55 remaining in the quarter, and the Blazers took a 92-65 advantage into the final period.
One minute into the fourth quarter, the Blazers’ bulge was 96-65, and it was over.
Portland spotted Phoenix a 15-8 lead, then ran off a 13-3 spurt for a 21-18 advantage. The Blazers took a 31-22 edge into the second quarter.
The Blazers increased the margin to 53-37 with three minutes to go in the quarter, but the Suns closed with a rush, outscoring Portland 12-2 the rest of the way to go into intermission trailing by only six.
NOTES: Phoenix was without G Brandon Knight, who aggravated an ankle injury Sunday in the Suns’ 109-97 loss to Oklahoma City. “Other guys have to step up,” Phoenix coach Jeff Hornacek said. “Hopefully he can get back for some games before the end of the season.” Knight missed eight consecutive games before playing 22 minutes Sunday. … The Suns are chasing the Thunder for the eighth and final playoff berth in the West. “We’re not mathematically out of it,” Hornacek said. “You can never give up. Even when you’re out of it, you have to play as hard as you can. If we don’t get into the playoffs, we can build and get a couple of our young guys ready for next season.” … The Blazers entered the night with a chance to clinch a playoff spot, but coach Terry Stotts hadn’t mentioned it to the players. “Going into the season, our goals were beyond just making the playoffs,” Stotts said.
