Bobcats 124, Trail Blazers 94: Al Jefferson finished with 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists in just three quarters of play as host Charlotte crushed Portland.

Kemba Walker made 4-of-5 3-pointers en route to 26 points and Gerald Henderson collected 23 points and eight boards for the Bobcats, who posted their highest point total of the season. Charlotte shot 52.1 percent and tied a season low with five turnovers in pulling within 2 1/2 games of idle Washington for sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

Damian Lillard scored 20 points to lead the Trail Blazers, who played their fifth straight game without leading scorer and rebounder LaMarcus Aldridge, out with a back injury. Dorell Wright had 17 points and Wesley Matthews added 15 for Portland, which shot 36.6 percent in a woeful first half.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Jefferson scored six points apiece in a 17-4 run to begin the game, and a 9-0 outburst to open the second quarter gave Charlotte a commanding 42-22 advantage. The margin grew to as many as 26 before the Bobcats settled for a 69-46 halftime lead, making all 12 of their free throws and turning the ball over just once in their highest-scoring first half of the season.

Portland forced a timeout midway through the third with a run that cut the deficit to 17, but Jefferson scored out of the timeout and Walker hit a 3-pointer to make it 82-60. Henderson's 3-pointer was part of a 6-0 surge to end the third as Charlotte entered the final period up 98-73 and coasted to its ninth win the last 10 home games.

GAME NOTEBOOK: There is no timetable for Aldridge's return but he is with the team on its five-game road trip. ... Charlotte won the battle on the boards by a 50-36 margin. ... The starters for both teams combined to go 26-of-26 from the line.