Portland Trail Blazers torch Kevin Durant’s heroics

Beat Warriors to snap 7-game streak

PORTLAND, Oregon – Damian Lillard had 44 points and eight assists, and the Portland Trail Blazers overcame Kevin Durant’s 50 points to snap a seven-game losing streak to the Golden State Warriors with a 123-117 victory on Wednesday night.

CJ McCollum added 29 points for the Blazers, who go into the All-Star break six games over .500 (32-26).

Durant added seven rebounds and six assists, but Golden State had its three-game winning streak snapped. It was Durant’s fifth career 50-point game and first this season.

The Blazers led by as many as 20 points in the first half but the Warriors got within a point in the third quarter. Klay Thompson’s 3-pointer narrowed it to 99-96 before Stephen Curry’s 3 tied it at 99 with 7:10 left.

In other results, Detroit thwarted Atlanta, 104-98; Charlotte edged Orlando, 104-102; Philadelphia rallied from 25 down to beat Miami, 104-102; Indiana downed Brooklyn, 108-93; Washington turned back New York, 118-113; Toronto routed Chicago, 122-98; Houston crushed Sacramento, 100-91; Oklahoma beat Memphis, 121-114; Utah trampled Phoenix, 107-97; the New Orleans Pelicans clobbered the Los Angeles Lakers, 139-117; and the Los Angeles Clippers blasted the Boston Celtics, 129-119.

Back in Portland, the Warriors couldn’t get ahead and Lillard’s 3-pointer put Portland ahead 109-101 with 5:05 to play.

Durant’s 3-pointer closed Golden State within 114-111 but McCollum got a 3 for the Blazers on the other end with 2:15 left. Durant’s reverse layup and a pair of free throws cut the margin to 117-115 before Evan Turner’s free throws padded the lead for Portland.