SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Jerryd Bayless scored a career-best 31 points in his first NBA start Wednesday in leading the Portland Trail Blazers past San Antonio 98-94.
Bayless, in his second season out of the University of Arizona, has averaged 7.5 points a game this year. The Trail Blazers needed a big performance from Bayless after Brandon Roy suffered a shoulder injury Tuesday in a victory over Dallas.
Portland had a two-point lead when Bayless missed a free throw with 5 seconds left. Steve Blake then claimed an offensive rebound, which led to two free throws by Andre Miller with a second left that clinched the victory.
Portland won for the fifth time in six games, getting 22 points and eight rebounds from LaMarcus Aldridge.
San Antonio, which has lost just twice in eight games, was paced by Tim Duncan with 24 points.
