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Blazers rally falls short in loss to Phoenix

Batum scores 27 points as Portland nearly overcomes 25-point deficit

The Columbian
Published: January 21, 2015, 4:00pm

PHOENIX — Season-high points by Eric Bledsoe with 33 and Isaiah Thomas with 27 saved the Phoenix Suns after they watched a 25-point first-half lead evaporate but still topped the Portland Trail Blazers 118-113 on Wednesday night.

The Blazers (31-12) went up 110-105 with 2:22 to play on a 3-pointer from leading scorer Nicolas Batum, who finished with 27 points. But the Suns went on a 13-3 run to close the game and win their seventh straight home game.

Portland got 22 points each for Damian Lillard and Wesley Matthews and 10 rebounds from Batum.

The Suns (26-18) have their longest home win streak of the season and longest since eight straight during the 2009-2010 season.

The Blazers had a chance to go ahead again with 20 second left, but Lillard missed a baseline jumper and fouled the Suns’ P.J. Tucker.

A missed free throw by Batum also cost the Blazers a chance to tie the game at 114. Portland’s last chance to tie was lost when Lillard stepped out of bounds trying to catch a high inbounds pass with 9.8 seconds left.

The Blazers, losers of four of five, played without star forward LaMarcus Aldridge because of a left hand injury. They still overcame their worst defensive first quarter of the season and outscored Phoenix 80-60 from the 5:10 mark of the second. But they couldn’t pull it out.

The Suns outscored the Blazers 27-2 over nine minutes between the first and second quarters to take control. Portland went scoreless over the last three minutes of the first and almost three minutes of the second before Will Barton’s layup.

Gerald Green lobbed to Miles Plumlee for a dunk, and Phoenix led 53-31 at the 6:09 mark of the second. The Blazers trailed by as many as 25 but cut the lead to 14, 66-52, at halftime.

The Blazers rallied in the fourth quarter, trimming the Suns’ lead to 93-86 with 8:57 left after Dorell Wright’s conventional three-point play.

Phoenix’s lead was four points until Thomas scored on a soaring layup and drew a blocking foul on Wright, making the score 99-92 after a free throw. Thomas kept the Blazers at bay with another basket with 5:59 to go, giving the Suns a six-point lead.

But the Blazers stormed ahead 105-102 with 4:05 left on the 3-pointer from Batum.

The Suns tied a season high for points in a first with 40 and the total was the most the Blazers have surrendered in any opening period this season. Still, the Blazers maintain a comfortable lead in the NBA’s Northwest Division.

Thomas scored nine of the Suns last 11 points of the first and had 13 in the decisive run. Green scored 10 of his 12 points in the second quarter.

TIP-INS

Blazers: Batum eclipsed his season high by 10 points, and his six 3-pointers were also a season best. … Wright, who started in place of Aldridge, scored a season high 15 points.

Suns: Phoenix has won seven straight at home over the Blazers. The Suns are 17-2 against Portland in 19 home games since January of 2005. The Suns are now 4-0 at the halfway point of their longest homestand in club history, eight games. They are home through Jan. 30. …Thomas made the move of the game when he purposely slowed down his dribble while looking away, causing defender C.J. McCollum to slow his pace. Suddenly Thomas rose up and hit a quick jumper with 2.8 seconds left in the first quarter.

UP NEXT

Blazers: Host Boston Thursday night.

Suns: Host Houston Friday night.

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