SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Modest and unassuming off the court, Damian Lillard has no problem taking charge when placed in a leadership role for the Portland Trail Blazers.
The rookie point guard led the way Tuesday night in a game the Blazers needed badly for morale purposes. Lillard had 22 points and nine assists to help Portland stop a four-game losing streak with a 103-86 victory over the short-handed Sacramento Kings.
“We had lost four games, so this one was really important," Lillard said. “It felt like a game we had to win."
Even though Lillard had a strong pre-draft workout for Sacramento, Thomas Robinson was chosen by the Kings at No. 5 overall and Lillard went to Portland as the sixth pick. Nicolas Batum is grateful that Lillard was still available.
“Damian is the perfect fit for us," said Batum, who had 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists. “He knows how to play and already plays like a veteran. He scores, he passes, he attacks, and he plays defense."
Against the Kings, patience in making the right play and taking the appropriate shot were the most noticeable aspects of Lillard’s game. He shot seven of 10 from the field, including five of six on 3-pointers.
“Last game I didn’t shoot the ball so well, but I took the same shots. They just fell tonight," Lillard said. “I’m really comfortable. I have to give a lot of credit to them (his teammates) for allowing me to be comfortable because they’ve been in the league a few years."
Portland used a strong third quarter to build its lead to 16 points and pushed the cushion to 22 early in the fourth. The Blazers outrebounded the Kings 44-33 and connected on 14 of 27 attempts from 3-point range.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 19 points for Portland and Wesley Matthews had 18. J.J. Hickson added 10 points and 13 rebounds.
James Johnson scored 16 and Marcus Thornton 14 for the Kings, who dropped their third straight. Jimmer Fredette had 13 points and a career-high six assists, while Robinson scored 12.
The Kings played their second consecutive game without leading scorer and rebounder DeMarcus Cousins, suspended following a verbal altercation last week with San Antonio Spurs television announcer Sean Elliott. Cousins lost an appeal Tuesday to reduce the suspension to one game.
It didn’t help that the Kings were further depleted, missing starting point guard Isaiah Thomas and backup Aaron Brooks, who injured his left ankle in the first quarter and didn’t return.
A rookie from Weber State, Lillard has scored 20 points or more in five of Portland’s eight games.
“In college he was an aggressive player who was a high-volume scorer," Fredette said. “He’s doing that here in this league as well. His game is translating very well to the NBA."
Portland opened the fourth quarter by outscoring the Kings 8-2, hiking its lead to 22 points on a pair of free throws by Matthews. The margin was never less than 17 the rest of the game.
Lillard continued to shoot well in the third quarter following a productive first half. He made all three shots, including a pair of 3s, and had eight points in the third for the Blazers, who outscored Sacramento 28-16 to assume a 74-58 lead heading into the fourth.
Also on Tuesday:
Spurs 84
Lakers 82
LOS ANGELES — Danny Green hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 9.3 seconds left, Tony Parker scored 19 points and San Antonio beat Los Angeles in the Lakers’ first loss since firing coach Mike Brown.
Knicks 99
Magic 89
ORLANDO, Fla. — Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points, J. R. Smith and Raymond Felton each added 21, and New York held off Orlando. The Knicks remained the NBA’s only unbeaten team.
Bobcats 92
Wizards 76
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ramon Sessions scored 21 points and Charlotte beat winless Washington to get back-to-back victories for the first time since last December.
Raptors 74
Pacers 72
INDIANAPOLIS — DeMar DeRozan scored 15 points and Jose Calderon had 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to lead Toronto.
Nets 114
Cavaliers 101
NEW YORK — Deron Williams had 26 points and 10 assists, Joe Johnson scored 25 points, and Brooklyn beat road-weary Cleveland for its third straight victory.
