Blazers blitz Hawks for 6th straight win

Damian Lillard scored 23 of his 36 points in the first half to help the visiting Portland Trail Blazers win their sixth straight, a 118-98 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.

Lillard, who didn't play against the Hawks in their first meeting in January, shot 13-for-25 from the field, sank four 3-pointers and handed out seven assists.

Portland (48-27) also got 17 points and 11 rebounds from Al-Farouq Aminu and 14 points and eight rebounds from Enes Canter. Seth Curry scored 12.

Atlanta (27-49) was led by Trae Young, who scored 20 of his 26 points in the first half but was just 1-for-8 from 3-point range. John Collins added 20 points but had just two rebounds. Kevin Huerter scored 11.

Portland used a 7-0 run in the first quarter to grab the early momentum and had a 38-30 lead after 12 minutes. Lillard and Young each scored 18 in the period.

The Trail Blazers never led by fewer than five points in the second period and were ahead by 11 after Rodney Hood's 3-pointer made it 55-44 with 4:14 left in the half. The Trail Blazers did not commit a foul in the second quarter and had only two in the first half; they led 60-51 at halftime.

Atlanta cut the deficit to four points in the third quarter when Anderson dropped in a 3-pointer with 7:41 left to make it 68-64. But Portland surge again and took a 90-76 lead into the final quarter.

Portland was playing without CJ McCollum, who missed his sixth game with a knee injury, and Jusuf Nurkic, who missed his second game breaking his leg on Monday. The Hawks played without Taurean Prince (bilateral foot soreness) and Alex Len (lower body).

Portland swept the season series against the Hawks.

The Trail Blazers complete a back-to-back set on Saturday at Detroit, the third leg of their four-game road trip. The Hawks play again at home on Sunday against the Milwaukee Bucks.

--Field Level Media