Lillard leads Blazers to key win over Lakers

Damian Lillard scored a game-high 38 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a pivotal 106-101 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday at the Moda Center.

The victory gives the Trail Blazers the head-to-head tiebreaker if the two clubs finish with identical records at season's end.

Lillard shot 12-of-18 from the field and 9-of-9 from the charity stripe en route to his 31st 30-point game of the campaign. Backcourt mate CJ McCollum added 21 points and four assists.

Lakers star Anthony Davis had his best performance since his return from a calf injury. The former No. 1 overall pick finished with 36 points, 12 boards, five assists, and one block.

"I feel good. I feel like I'm getting my legs back under me," Davis told reporters postgame, according to Spectrum SportsNet's Mike Trudell.

LeBron James sat out his third consecutive game to nurse a sore right ankle. The 36-year-old is reportedly aiming to return either Tuesday against the New York Knicks or Wednesday vs. the Houston Rockets.

Portland now owns a one-game lead on Los Angeles for the West's No. 6 seed.

The Lakers have lost eight of their past 11 games.