Lillard scores 42 as Trail Blazers hold off Hawks 129-125

PORTLAND,Ore. (AP) — Damian Lillard scored 42 points, Anfernee Simons hit atiebreaking 3-pointer with 34 seconds left and the Portland TrailBlazers held off the Atlanta Hawks 129-125 on Monday night.

DejounteMurray had 40 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Hawks,who played without star point guard Trae Young (ankle).

Lillardadded six assists in his fifth 40-point game this month. JeramiGrant had 22 points and Simons finished with 21, including hisclutch 3 off a pass from Lillard to give the Trail Blazers a124-121 lead.

“I wasn’treally expecting the ball but I was prepared for it,” Simons said.“Usually, they don’t help off me like that. (DeAndre Hunter) helpedway off and I got pretty much an easy 3 to get off. It was as easyas it comes.”

Lillard hadno trouble giving up the ball.

“Theyhelped all the way off (Simons). It was an easy call,” he said.

BogdanBogdanovic scored 23 points for Atlanta off the bench.

“Everypossession matters,” Hawks coach Nate McMillan said. “We did notfinish and they did.”

Portlandled by 10 in the fourth quarter before the Hawks made their run andtied it at 119 on two free throws by Murray with 1:06 left.

Lillardscored on a drive but then fouled Murray, who sank two more freethrows to tie it 121-all with 41.1 seconds to go.

Simons putthe Blazers in front for good with his 3-pointer. Bogdanovic wasfouled on a 3 with 27.1 seconds to play but missed two of three atthe line, leaving Portland ahead 124-122.

Grant hittwo free throws before Bogdanovic missed a 3 at the other end with15.1 seconds to go.

A freethrow by Josh Hart and two more from Lillard helped the Blazersseal it.

Lillarddrained all 17 of his foul shots. Hart finished with nine points,12 rebounds and five assists.

Portlandescaped despite getting outrebounded 45-29 and outscored 21-3 insecond-chance points.

“You’drather learn and keep talking about it in wins,” Lillard said aboutPortland’s struggles on the glass. “We can keep having thatconversation. We’ve got to box out better, hit somebody and limitthese opportunities.”

Lillard had22 points in the first half to help the Blazers take a 64-60 leadinto the locker room. Murray scored 20 before the break.

Portlandgot a big lift from 19-year-old rookie Shaedon Sharpe, whosechase-down block on Murray with 2:49 left in the third quarter gavethe crowd a jolt of energy. Sharpe also had two alley-oop dunks anda near miss that drew the loudest reaction of the night. Hefinished with 10 points and four rebounds in 24 minutes off thebench.

“He’s beengetting a lot more comfortable on both sides of the ball,” TrailBlazers coach Chauncey Billups said.

With 2:14left in the third, Murray received a technical for arguing a foulcalled on the Hawks. Lillard made three free throws to extendPortland’s lead to seven. He closed the quarter scoring fivestraight points to put the Blazers up 99-92 heading into thefourth.

SIDELINED

Young satout with a right ankle injury, missing his sixth game of theseason. Aaron Holiday started in his place.

HONORED

Earlier inthe day, Lillard was selected Western Conference player of theweek. Portland went 2-1 at home last week as Lillard averaged 42.3points while shooting 63% from the field and 51% on 3-pointers.

“You’ve gotto have somebody in his face when he crosses half court,” McMillansaid before the game. “He’s shown the ability to be unstoppable attimes with his ability to stretch the floor and create offense. Idon’t think you can give him the same look and expect to havesuccess against him. He’s seen everything and he’s still able toaffect the game.”