CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After playing six games in eight days on the East coast, you might think the travel weary Portland Trail Blazers might be ready to run out of steam.
Hardly.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 25 points and 13 rebounds, Luke Babbitt hit a pair of clutch 3-pointers and Portland overcame an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Charlotte Bobcats 118-112 in overtime Monday night.
The Blazers trailed 97-79 with 5:17 left in regulation, but stormed back to tie the score and sent it into overtime on Babbitt’s 3 with 22 seconds left.
“We showed a lot of heart and determination," Aldridge said.
To win their second straight game the Blazers had to find a way to stop Ben Gordon, who set a Bobcats’ franchise record with eight 3-pointers and finished with 29 points to eclipse 10,000 for his career.
Damian Lillard scored 24 points and Nicolas Batum added 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Blazers, who finish their seven-game road trip at Indiana on Wednesday.
“We are showing that anything is possible if we crack down and we play defense," Aldridge said. “Down the stretch we were aggressive, hit the board and started trapping off the pick and roll. We had to make Ben Gordon and (Kemba) Walker pass the ball."
Batum opened overtime with a big 3-pointer and the Blazers never trailed again.
Babbitt later added a clutch 3-ball to push the lead to four and Wesley Matthews finished off the Bobcats by hitting four of four free throws in the final 53 seconds.
Charlotte had a chance to win at the end of regulation but Kemba Walker’s drive and fallaway jumper from the baseline didn’t fall. The Bobcats wanted to get the ball to Gordon for the last shot, but he was well covered.
Walker penetrated, pump-faked and got a good shot off that didn’t go down.
Walker finished with 22 points and seven assists for the Bobcats. Byron Mullens added 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Gordon, who is shooting 49 percent from 3-point range this season, began to heat up late in the third quarter and gave the Bobcats a five-point lead to open the fourth.
Charlotte carried the momentum into the final period opening with a flurry and pushing the lead to 18.
That’s when Blazers coach Terry Slots told his players during a timeout that “a lot can happen."
In other Monday games:
Pistons 89
Cavaliers 79
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Brandon Knight scored 17 points, Kyle Singler and Tayshaun Prince had 15 apiece and Detroit beat Cleveland for its fifth straight home win.
Hornets 102
Bucks 81
NEW ORLEANS — Ryan Anderson scored 22 points, Robin Lopez added 21 and New Orleans won for only the second time in 11 games.
Magic 102
Warriors 94
OAKLAND, Calif. — Glen Davis and Arron Afflalo scored 24 points apiece, and Orlando outlasted Golden State for its second straight victory.
Nuggets 113
Raptors 110
DENVER — Corey Brewer scored 19 points, JaVale McGee had 17 points and five blocks, and Denver withstood a late rally to beat Toronto.
Clippers 105
Jazz 104
SALT LAKE CITY — Blake Griffin scored 30 points, Jamal Crawford added 20 off the bench and Los Angeles handed Utah its first loss at home this season.
