LaMarcus Aldridge scored 29 points, including the game-winning jumper, and the Portland Trail Blazers used a fourth-quarter surge to steal a win from the Milwaukee Bucks, 103-101, at the Bradley Center.
Aldridge was an efficient 14-for-20 from the floor, and also pulled down six rebounds, as the Blazers snapped a two-game losing streak. Brandon Roy went for 20 points and 10 assists - the last of which came on Aldridge's game- sealer - and Steve Blake added 21 and six assists.
Michael Redd scored 25 points to lead Milwaukee, pouring in the final 10 Bucks points down the stretch to keep his team afloat, but also missed a key late free throw that could have prevented a fourth loss in five games.
Down as many as eight in the fourth quarter, Portland used a 14-0 run capped by Aldridge's jump hook with just over two minutes remaining to take a 97-91 lead. Redd then went to work, driving left for a bucket, then depositing a lefty teardrop to bring the Bucks back within two with 1:30 on the clock.
But Roy took Redd to the hole at the other end, using the glass for a hoop that had the Blazers up 99-95 before Redd answered by going to his right, leaning into Roy, and drawing a foul that led to a three-point play and a 99-98 margin.
Portland reclaimed its three-point advantage with 52.5 ticks on the clock when Martell Webster took a handoff from Aldridge and went baseline, finishing with a pretty up-and-under reverse lay-in.
Milwaukee called timeout, and naturally went to Redd out of the break. He responded, rattling home a short jumper to make it 101-100, and the Bucks had a chance to reclaim the lead after Blake misfired on a foul-line jumper.
But after a near-disastrous inbounds play, Redd was fouled on the floor by Roy with 21.4 seconds showing. He drained the first free throw, but the second hit off the back iron, leaving the game tied with 20 seconds to go after Blake corralled the rebounds.
Out of a Portland timeout, Roy stood isolated at the top of the key against Milwaukee's Charlie Bell, and drove to his right for the potential go-ahead bucket. The defense collapsed, and Roy alertly kicked for Aldridge along the right baseline.
Aldridge smoothly buried the short jumper with little defensive pressure, and Milwaukee managed just a full-court heave in the waning seconds.
Webster finished with 17 points and seven rebounds for Portland, which is now 9-2 on the season in games decided by three points or fewer.
Charlie Villanueva had 16 for Milwaukee, while Bell and Desmond Mason ended up with 15 apiece. Royal Ivey contributed 12 in the losing effort.
A late 8-2 spurt gave Milwaukee a 32-30 lead after one quarter. The Bucks pushed that advantage to 49-40 with 5:15 to go before the half, when Mason threw in a baby hook. Portland hung close, though, and trailed just 52-47 at the break.
Redd hit a three for a 63-55 Bucks lead a little more than five minutes into the third, but Portland clawed its way back to take a brief lead before going into the fourth down 78-77.
Bell's triple made it an 87-81 Milwaukee lead with 9:19 remaining, and moments later Ivey scored in the lane to make it an eight-point game. Portland wouldn't lay down though, with Roy hitting a three from the left corner to make it 91-86 and keep the Blazers within striking distance for the stretch.
Game Notes
Portland shot 54.5 percent from the floor on the night, led by Aldridge, as well as Roy and Blake, who each went 8-for-15...Andrew Bogut finished with 12 points and seven boards for the Bucks, who forced 16 Blazers turnovers...Joel Przybilla had a game-high 15 rebounds for Portland, which took the season series, 2-0.
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