Damian Lillard, Blazers hold off Pacers

Damian Lillard scored 23 points and LaMarcus Aldridge posted his fourth straight double-double as the Portland Trail Blazers held off the Indiana Pacers, 88-82, on Thursday.

Aldridge finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds for Portland, which has won three straight and 12 of 13. Nicolas Batum added 13 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Rodney Stuckey scored 16 points and Solomon Hill added 15 with eight rebounds in Indiana's third straight loss.

The Blazers turned a 38-33 halftime lead into a nine-point advantage with baskets on their first two looks of the third quarter.

The spread was just two when Lillard hit from deep and assisted on Batum's breakaway slam. Out of a timeout, Lillard converted a three-point play to give Portland its first double-digit lead at 54-44.

With the game slipping away, Hill and David West combined for 13 points and Damjan Rudez connected on a long two as the Pacers pulled back to within three heading into the fourth.

Twice in the fourth, Indiana tied the score but failed to get over the hump. C.J. Watson's layup at 9:10 made it 66-66 before Portland rattled over 11 straight. Roy Hibbert's hook shot at 5:19 ended a nearly four-minute scoring drought.

Aldridge and Batum both made two free throws in the final minute to help Portland seal the outcome.

Earlier, Portland led 16-14 after a low-scoring first quarter. Indiana then shot 8-for-21 in the second.

Game Notes

The Pacers outscored Portland 42-32 in the paint ... Aldridge has at least nine points and nine rebounds in nine straight games ... Portland shot 4- for-21 from 3-point range and finished with a season-low in points.

[SportsNetwork.com]