PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Rasheed Wallace scored 12 of his season-high 30 points in the fourth quarter Friday night, including a clutch three-pointer with 15 seconds left, as the Portland Trail Blazers posted a 97-90 victory over the Denver Nuggets.
Wallace made 10 of 16 shots, including a pair of three-pointers in the final period, when he rescued his team from a third straight loss. He scored four points during a 9-0 run as Portland took an 82-72 lead with seven minutes to play.
Denver pulled within three with 30 seconds left, but Nick Van Exel missed a tough layup and Wallace responded with his ninth three-pointer of the season to seal the win.
Ruben Patterson scored 15 points, Derek Anderson added 12 and Dale Davis 11 for the Blazers. Damon Stoudamire returned after missing five games with tendinitis in his right knee and had 10 points and nine assists.
Van Exel scored 29 points and Raef LaFrentz had 15 and nine rebounds for the Nuggets, who made eight of 19 three-pointers. LaFrentz was five of eight from three-point range.
Avery Johnson had 14 points and 12 assists and George McCloud collected 11 points and 11 rebounds for Denver.
