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PORTLAND, Ore. -- The surging Portland Trail Blazers continued their drive for an NBA playoff berth with a 117-107 win over the Houston Rockets at Moda Center on Thursday. Damian Lillard scored 31 points and added 11 assists to lead the Blazers to their 13th victory in the past 16 outings.
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Portland (37-38) and climbed 1 1/2 games ahead of idle Denver (35-39) in the battle for the eighth and final postseason spot in the Western Conference.
James Harden scored 30 points for Houston (51-24). Harden, who also had eight rebounds and four assists, made just 2 of 13 attempts from 3-point range.
The Blazers have won five games in a row and four in a row at home, both season-best streaks. They finished 13-3 in March.
Portland will play five of its seven remaining games at Moda Center.
The inside-outside tandem of Lillard and 7-foot center Jusuf Nurkic gave Houston fits at both ends of the court. Nurkic finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, and he altered numerous Houston attempts to score around the basket.
Forward Moe Harkless hit 5 of 7 shots in an 11-point first quarter, helping the Blazers to a 32-31 lead. Lillard also scored 11 in the quarter, while Harden scored 12 for the Rockets.
In the second quarter, it was Allen Crabbe's turn to have a hot hand. The backup guard made four jump shots in a row and scored 11 points as Portland stretched its lead to 12 points then went to halftime on top 65-56. Harden scored just three points in the quarter.
The Rockets made a couple of mini-runs in the third quarter, but Lillard and the Blazers had an answer each time.
Houston trailed 96-85 entering the final 12 minutes and tied the score at 105-105 with 2:28 remaining.
Nurkic dunked off a low-post move to put Portland on top 107-105 with 2:05 left, and the Blazers led the rest of the way.
NOTES: The teams hadn't met since Nov. 27, when the Rockets won 130-114 at Portland. The Blazers have been a different team since their Feb. 13 trade for Nurkic. "Nurkic has helped them, obviously," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said. "They're 19th in defense since the All-Star break, so they've shored that up a lot, and they've got a good offensive team." ... The Blazers could wind up being a tough first-round foe for Golden State or San Antonio, the only teams ahead of Houston in the West. "I'm kind of happy (about that)," D'Antoni said, with a laugh. ... G James Harden has led the Rockets in assists in all but one game this season. "The most important thing" about his play this season is "he's being a facilitator," Portland coach Terry Stotts said. ... Houston plans to rest C Nene on Friday night at Golden State. ... The Rockets are without F Ryan Anderson for the rest of the regular season due to a sprained ankle.
