PORTLAND — His buzzer-beating 3-pointer was still under review, but Jordan Crawford knew it was good. And so did his Washington Wizards teammates, who engulfed him in a dogpile on the floor of the Rose Garden.
“If I could get the game ball you know I would keep it," Crawford said after his 30-foot-jumper beat the clock and gave Washington a 98-95 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night.
Crawford’s fadeaway and a corner 3-pointer gave the Wizards an 82-75 lead, their largest to that point, with just more than seven minutes left in the game.
Rookie Damian Lillard’s dunk pulled the Blazers to 91-90 with 2:21 left. Former Blazer Martell Webster and John Wall answered with consecutive dunks, but Lillard added a layup and Wesley Matthews hit a 3-pointer to tie it with 7.9 seconds left.
Crawford’s game-winner was reviewed but it didn’t stop the Wizards’ celebration.
Nicolas Batum had 12 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists for his first career triple-double, but the Blazers lost their season-high sixth straight. The French forward was the first Portland player to have a triple-double since 2008.
“I don’t really count it," Batum said about his feat. “We got swept by the Wizards this year."
The Wizards (9-30) have won four of their past six games — which coincides with the return of Wall, who missed the team’s first 33 games with a stress injury in his left kneecap. In his first five games, Wall averaged 15.6 points and 7.6 assists. Playing off the bench against the Blazers, he had six points and two assists.
Nene and Webster each had a season-high 24 points to lead the Wizards, who won just their third on the road this season.
Washington opened the season with a 12-game losing streak — the franchise’s worst-ever start — that was snapped by an 84-82 victory at home against the Blazers.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 17 points and 12 rebounds for Portland (20-21), which lost its fourth straight at home after a nine-game winning streak. Lillard finished with 18 points.
“We need to win a game. I don’t think anyone is worried or panicked. We just need to win a game," Lillard said.
Nene scored 10 points in the first four minutes for the Wizards, who led by as many as seven points early. The Blazers went ahead 21-19 on Lillard’s 20-foot pull-up jumper, but couldn’t hang on to the lead and Washington finished the first quarter ahead 34-31. Nene had 17 points in the first period alone.
The Wizards led until J.J. Hickson’s dunk and free throw gave Portland a 42-40 edge midway through the second quarter.
Rookie Meyers Leonard’s long jumper and a layup extended the Blazers’ lead to 48-40. Leonard was making his return after missing 11 games with a right ankle injury.
But the Wizards closed out the half with a 10-3 run to narrow it to 51-50 for Portland at the break.
The Blazers held off the Wizards in the third quarter but surrendered the lead when Emeka Okafor’s free throw put Washington ahead 60-59. Webster made a 3-pointer that made it 63-61 for Washington.
The Wizards closed out the quarter with a 15-5 run to make it 69-64, but Ronnie Price narrowed it with a 3-pointer to open the final period.
Also on Monday:
Nets 88
Knicks 85
NEW YORK — Joe Johnson made the go-ahead jumper with 22 seconds left and scored 25 points, leading Brooklyn past New York and a split of the four-game series between the city rivals. Carmelo Anthony had 29 points and seven assists for the Knicks, but missed all six shots in the fourth quarter and finished 11 of 29 for the game.
Bulls 95
Lakers 83
CHICAGO — Kirk Hinrich scored 22 points, Marco Belinelli added 15 points, and the Bulls pulled away with an 18-4 run that broke a 75-75 tie and sent Los Angeles to its ninth loss in 11 games. The Lakers have now dropped six straight on the road, and this one came after coach Mike D’Antoni shook up the lineup, moving forward Pau Gasol to a reserve role.
Spurs 90
76ers 85
PHILADELPHIA — Tim Duncan had 24 points and 17 rebounds and Tony Parker scored 20 points to lead San Antonio to its fifth straight win. The Spurs blew a 17-point lead in the first half before rallying late.
Warriors 106
Clippers 99
OAKLAND, Calif. — Jarrett Jack had 18 points and 10 assists, Stephen Curry made four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and Golden State rallied from seven points down in the final 11 minutes. Blake Griffin had 26 points and 13 rebounds for the Clippers.
Pacers 82
Grizzlies 81
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — George Hill scored 13 points, including a clinching free throw with 1.4 seconds remaining to give Indiana a victory over Memphis. On the ensuing in-bounds, Rudy Gay’s 24-footer over Paul George banked in, but it came after the buzzer.
Rockets 100
Bobcats 94
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — James Harden scored 29 points and hit all 10 of his free throws in the fourth quarter as Houston rallied to snap a seven-game losing streak. Kemba Walker scored a career-high 35 points for the Bobcats, who set a franchise record with their 15th straight loss at home.
Hornets 114
Kings 105
NEW ORLEANS — Ryan Anderson scored 27 points and New Orleans defeated Sacramento. DeMarcus Cousins led the Kings with 29 points and 13 rebounds.
Hawks 104
Timberwolves 96
ATLANTA — Al Horford scored a season-high 28 points, Jannero Pargo had 16 and Atlanta snapped a two-game slide with a victory over Minnesota.
