----- Damian Lillard missed a three-pointer at the buzzer as the San Antonio Spurs hold on for a 113-110 win Monday night at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Damian Lillard scored 28 points including 18-straight in the fourth quarter, but his three-pointer at the buzzer went halfway down and popped out giving the Spurs a 113-110 win over the Trail Blazers Monday night at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.
DeMar DeRozan led the Spurs with 27 points, Derrick White added 21 points off the bench, and LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 15.
The Blazers went on an 18-2 run, starting midway through the fourth quarter, that was capped by a pair of 3s by Lillard, closing within 107-104 with 1:57 remaining. A Lillard jam cut the margin to a point, 109-108, with 1:10 left. Lillard and Anthony Tolliver missed consecutive threee-point attempts with the Blazers trailing 113-100. DeRozan missed a pair of free throws, setting up Lillard's final shot.
Portland (2-2) got 27 points from CJ McCollum, Rodney Hood scored 11, and Skal Labissiere and Anfernee Simons each scored 10 off the bench. The Blazers connected on just 10 of their 33 shots from three-point range.
The Blazers started the game hot taking a 33-19 lead at the end of one. The Spurs closed the game to six at halftime and then dominated the third quarter 37-20 to take control of the game.
Up Next- Trail Blazers to Oklahoma City to meet the Thunder on Wednesday. The game is scheduled to tip off at 5:00 PM.
Chad's Take- Four good looks from three at the end of the game for the Trail Blazers that just didn't go in. I take those every time. This game was lost in the second and third quarter. Blazers didn't make shots, didn't defend well, and they need more from their bench moving forward. A win on Wednesday would give Portland a 3-1 mark on the four-game road trip.