PORTLAND, Ore., April 9 (UPI) -- LaMarcus Aldridge led all five Portland starters into double figures Friday and the Trail Blazers battled past the Los Angeles Lakers 93-86.
The Lakers lost their fourth straight to equal their longest such streak of the season and their lead over Dallas in the race for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference dwindled to a single game.
Aldridge scored 24 points with 11 rebounds, helping the Trail Blazers to their second straight win. Portland remained a half game in front of New Orleans for the No. 6 seed and will meet either Dallas or the Lakers in the opening round of the playoffs.
Gerald Wallace added 19 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists for Portland.
Kobe Bryant scored 24 points for the Lakers, but he made only 10-of-25 shots from the field.
