Damian Lillard has season-high 60 points, Blazers beat Jazz 134-124

PORTLAND,Ore. (AP) — Damian Lillard scored a season-high 60 points, hittingnine 3-pointers, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Utah Jazz134-124 on Wednesday night.

Lillardtied for second-most in the NBA this season. Donovan Mitchell had71 in an overtime game for Cleveland against Chicago on Jan. 3, andLuka Doncic scored 60 in Dallas’ OT victory over New York on Dec.27.

JeramiGrant added 19 points to help Portland win its second straightgame.

LauriMarkkanen led the Jazz with 24 points. He had a layup followed by atip shot with 5:20 left that got Utah to 115-108.

Grant andAnfernee Simons had back-to-back dunks to put Portland up 121-110and the Blazers led comfortably the rest of the way.

WhenLillard came to the free-throw line late in the game, the homecrowd stood and chanted “MVP! “MVP!” Lillard missed a jump shotwith 29.1 seconds left that would have topped his career best61.

Lillard hasfour career games of 60 points or more. He’s reached 61 twice.

Afterstruggling for much of January, the Blazers were coming off amorale-boosting 147-127 victory over San Antonio on Monday.

Lillard had26 points in the first half, hitting six 3s.

Lillardfinished 21 of 29 from the field, 9 of 15 on 3s and 9 of 10 at theline. He also had eight assists, seven rebounds and threesteals.

TIP-INS

Jazz: Thequick trip to Portland was in the middle of two Jazz homestands.They played three in Utah before the game, then return for fivegames at home. ... Markkanen has made a 3-pointer in 37 straightgames, the most for an NBA 7-footer.

TrailBlazers: It was the fourth game of a six-game homestand for theBlazers. ... Portland was hurt in the first half when starter JoshHart left with a hamstring injury and did not return. Jusuf Nurkicleft the game in the third quarter with left calf soreness and didnot return. ... Lillard moved into sixth on the league’s all-time3pointers made list, passing Vince Carter.

LEARNING PROCESS

RookieWalker Kessler has been starting for the Jazz in Kelly Olynyk’sabsence because of a left ankle strain. The 7-foot-1 center ranksamong the lead leaders in blocks, with 1.9 per game.

Jazz coachWill Harvey said part of Walker’s development is knowing he belongsat the NBA level.

“I thinkhe’s getting some good feedback when he watches the film with thecoaches, but I really think that he’s getting a lot of feedbackfrom his teammates, and they’re empowering him,” Harvey said. “Thethings that they say to him in the huddle, in the locker room,pregame, postgame and at practice, make him feel like he’s a bigpart of what we’re doing and that he does belong and I think that’swhere you’re seeing his confidence grow.”

UPNEXT

Jazz: HostDallas on Saturday night.

TrailBlazers: Host the Raptors on Saturday night.