Blazers prevent Pacers from clinching with 106-98 win

Damian Lillard had 30 points and 15 assists as the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Indiana Pacers 106-98 on Monday night without starting guard CJ McCollum.

Jusuf Nurkic added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Blazers, who led by as many as 21. Portland has won four of five and is holding onto fourth place in the Western Conference.

Myles Turner had 28 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacers, who missed out on clinching a playoff spot in the East. Indiana (44-27) has lost six straight on the road.

Indiana Pacers forward Bojan Bogdanovic, left, drives to the basket on Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Monday March 18, 2019. (AP PhotoSteve Dykes)

The Blazers (43-27) have won 10 in a row against the Pacers in Portland.

Bojan Bogdanovic's layup pulled the Pacers to 100-91 with just under three minutes left, and Turner made free throws to get Indiana closer. The teams traded free throws down the stretch, but Portland was stung when Nurkic fouled out.

Wesley Matthews' layup closed the gap to 102-97, but Al-Farouq Aminu made free throws on the other end and Portland held on.

Indiana Pacers guard Tyreke Evans, left, drives to the basket on Portland Trail Blazers forward Zach Collins, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Monday March 18, 2019. (AP PhotoSteve Dykes)

Portland was playing its first game minus McCollum, who injured his left knee in Saturday's loss at San Antonio.

McCollum, who is averaging 21.3 points per game this season, has a popliteus strain and will be re-examined in a week, the team said. It isn't known whether he'll be back before the end of the regular season.

"I don't like to miss games, but I've got to do what's best for myself from a health standpoint, and doctors will sign off when they think I'm ready," he said before the game.

Indiana Pacers guard Tyreke Evans, left, looks to pass the ball as Portland Trail Blazers guard Seth Curry, right, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Monday March 18, 2019. (AP PhotoSteve Dykes)

Turner scored 11 points in the opening six minutes and the Pacers led 19-12. They stretched the margin to 11, but Portland got to 31-28 by the end of the first quarter.

Lillard closed out the first half with a 3-pointer from nearly the pinwheel logo at center court, and the Blazers went to the locker room with a 55-48 lead. Lillard had 18 points and eight assists in the half. Turner also scored 18 to go with six rebounds.

After hitting just three 3-pointers in the first half, the Blazers made eight in the third quarter. Aminu had four of those.

Indiana Pacers guard Wesley Matthews, left, battles for a rebound with Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Monday March 18, 2019. (AP PhotoSteve Dykes)

TIP-INS

Pacers: Domantas Sabonis received warm applause from the Moda Center crowd when he entered the game. His dad, Arvydas, played for the Blazers from 1995-2001 and again during the 2002-03 season.

Trail Blazers: Portland won the first meeting this season 103-93 in October. It is the second straight year that the Blazers have swept the season series against Indiana. ... It was Lillard's ninth double-double of the season.

Indiana Pacers guard Wesley Matthews, right, drives to the basket against Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Monday March 18, 2019. (AP PhotoSteve Dykes)

KANTER MEETING

Oregon Congressman Ron Wyden met with Blazers forward Enes Kanter before the game to discuss Kanter's concerns about retribution from Turkey, his native country, over his criticism of the government there. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan has issued an international warrant for Kanter's arrest.

Kanter did not travel with the Blazers to Toronto while on a road trip earlier this season, fearing reprisal. Wyden has urged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to make it clear to Turkey that any action against Kanter is unacceptable.

"Here in Rip City, we push back against bullies. We expose them, we try to make sure the world knows what kind of sleazy tactics they're using. I told Mr. Kanter as Oregon's senior senator and Oregon's guy on the senate Intelligence Committee, that I'm in this fight all the way, because we're a community that values the rights of free speech and free expression, and we don't walk away when a bully comes in and tries to shove around one of our own," Wyden said.

UP NEXT

The Pacers visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.

The Trail Blazers host Dallas on Wednesday.

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)