Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons lead Blazers past Grizzlies, 122-112

MEMPHIS,Tenn. (AP) — Damian Lillard had 42 points and 10 assists, AnferneeSimons added 26 points and the Portland Trail Blazers rallied tobeat the Memphis Grizzlies 122-112 on Wednesday night.

Jerami Granthad 18 points in the first half, before leaving because ofconcussion symptoms. Portland outscored Memphis 38-22 in the fourthquarter to win for the fourth time in five games.

“I thinkwe’ve had a couple of quality wins,” Lillard said. “This was thebest team we’ve come up with a win against, especially as oflate.”

Portland wasable to rally late despite losing two starters — Jusuf Nurkic andGrant — to injuries in the first half. There were key stops downthe stretch, and the Trail Blazers defense kept the Memphisshooting at 39%, including converting only 1 of 7 shots in from3-point range in the fourth quarter.

“I knew Ineeded to be a little more aggressive just to give ourselves achance,” Simons said. “Everybody else played well and everybody wasready to play.”

Ja Morant had32 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds for Memphis. Jaren JacksonJr. added 18 points and six blocks, and Desmond Bane had 17points.

Lillard, whohad five games of at least 40 points in January, continued thetrend, converting 11 of 22 shots and 5 of 13 3-pointers. He alsomissed only one of his 16 free throws.

“They justfound a way to get open shots,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said.“... I thought our guys competed. You’ve just got to tip your hat.Lillard’s on a roll right now, and we were on the wrong end ofthat.”

The teamswere tied at 109 with two minutes to play, but Lillard’s 3-pointerand Simons’ layup was good on Morant’s goaltending. When DrewEubanks converted a three-point play on a dunk, Portland led117-109 with just under a minute left.

Lillardscored 17 points in the third quarter, but Morant countered with 16points in the period and Memphis took a 90-84 lead into fourthbefore the Portland rally completed the comeback.

“I didn’tplay good enough defense on Lillard,” said Memphis forward DillonBrooks, who had the defensive assignment most of the night onPortland’s top scorer. “He started hitting shots. Even though theywere tough shots, I’ve got to do something to contest. Do somethingto discourage him from shooting when he started getting hot.”

TIP-INS

TrailBlazers: Nurkic left early in the first quarter with left calfsoreness and did not return. Nurkic was listed on the pregameinjury report with the same injury. ... Lillard has at least 25points in 12 of his last 13 games.

Grizzlies: CBrandon Clarke was 3 of 6 from the field and has made 24 of hislast 35 shots.

ALL-STAR LOBBYING

Portlandcoach Chauncey Billups said he has filled out his All-Star ballotand acknowledged that he received some calls from other coacheslobbying for their teams. And maybe a bit more. “Definitely,there’s some bribery going on,” Billups said with a smile.

GREEN’S RETURN

Memphisguard/forward Danny Green, who missed the first 50 games of theseason, saw his first action, playing 10 minutes and scoring threepoints, hitting one of his four 3-pointers. Green, acquired byMemphis in a draft night trade, spent the first part of the seasonrehabbing a knee injury he suffered in last year’s playoff when hewas with the Philadelphia 76ers.

“It feltgood,” Green said. “Game obviously moved fast, so I had to slow itdown a little, but it was good to get out there.”

UPNEXT

TrailBlazers: At Washington on Friday night.

Grizzlies: AtCleveland on Thursday night.