Damian Lillard scored 36 points and the Portland Trail Blazers rebounded from a first-half deficit to beat the Atlanta Hawks 112-106 on Saturday night.
Enes Kanter added 12 points and 15 rebounds for the Blazers, who have won five of their last six. But Portland got some bad news when guard CJ McCollum left the game at halftime because of a left foot sprain.
Trae Young had 26 points and 11 assists, while Clint Capela added 25 points and 15 rebounds for Atlanta, which was playing the second of a back-to-back following a 116-92 loss at Utah a night earlier.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, center, dribbles past Atlanta Hawks guard Kevin Huerter, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021. (AP PhotoCraig Mitchelldyer)
Portland led 98-94 with just under six minutes left after trailing by as many as 16 points in the opening half. Gary Trent Jr.'s 3-pointer extended the lead to 101-96.
After Capela's dunk, Trent hit another 3 and Lillard dished to Derrick Jones Jr. for the alley-oop to put the Blazers in front 106-98 with 3:53 left.
Atlanta chipped away, getting within 106-104 on Capela's tip. After Lillard made free throws, Young's layup made it 108-106 with under a minute left. Carmelo Anthony missed a pull-up jumper from out front, but Young was called for an offensive foul at the other end. After review, the call stood, and Lillard made free throws to close it out.
Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum shoots against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021. (AP PhotoCraig Mitchelldyer)
The Blazers were playing in their first game without big man Jusuf Nurkic, who fractured his right wrist in the third quarter of a 111-87 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday. Kanter started in his place.
Cam Reddish did not play because of a knee contusion. Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce said before the game he was just sore and hadn't had time to recover after Friday night's game. Young had back tightness going into the game but started.
Lillard hit a 3-pointer that gave the Blazers an early 29-24 lead, but the Hawks answered with a 14-5 run to close the opening quarter up 38-34.
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, right, shoots over Portland Trail Blazers center Enes Kanter during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021. (AP PhotoCraig Mitchelldyer)
Atlanta extended the lead to 52-36 on Young's 3-pointer as the Blazers went cold. Portland rebounded, pulling within 62-59 on Kanter's layup.
The Hawks went into the break ahead 66-59. Capela led Atlanta with 19 points, while Lillard had 19 for Portland.
McCollum, who had 16 points in the first half, did not return for the second. It was unclear when he was hurt but it appeared that Capela stepped on his foot following a layup in the opening quarter.
Rodney Hood's 3 pointer got the Blazers with 82-79 late in the third. Portland pulled into an 82-all tie with less that a minute left.
Portland took an 88-86 lead on Gary Trent Jr.'s layup and Anthony's 3-pointer made it 94-90 with 7:33 left.
TIP INS
Hawks: Heading into the game, Trae Young was averaging 8.4 assists, fourth in the NBA. ... The Hawks are the league’s second-best rebounding team, averaging 48.9.
Trail Blazers: The The Blazers have won three straight against the Hawks in Portland. ... Lillard needs three 3-pointers to pass Kobe Bryant for the 17th on the NBA's all-time list. He had four against the Hawks.
UP NEXT
The Hawks host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.
The Trail Blazers host the San Antonio Spurs on Monday.
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