Trail Blazers 98, Lakers 94: Damian Lillard scored 39 points and sank the decisive shot as host Portland defeated a Los Angeles squad missing Kobe Bryant.

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 21 points and Meyers Leonard had 12 points and a season-best 12 rebounds for his second career double-double as the Trail Blazers improved to 16-3 at home. Lillard drove for the go-ahead layup with 36.9 seconds left and added two free throws 18 seconds later as Portland recorded its 10th win in 12 games.

Bryant was left back in Los Angeles to rest and Jordan Hill emerged as a potent force by tying a season high with 23 points and also grabbing 14 rebounds. Jeremy Lin added 14 points and Wayne Ellington scored 13 for the Lakers.

Los Angeles led 85-79 after Carlos Boozer’s basket with 4:50 remaining before Lillard drained a 3-pointer and Aldridge hit back-to-back baskets to give the Trail Blazers a one-point lead with 3:31 to go. Another 3-pointer by Lillard made it a four-point margin before Nick Young hit three free throws and Lin made two to put the Lakers ahead by one before Lillard’s key layup.

Lillard had 15 first-half points as the Trail Blazers took a 47-45 lead into the break. A 10-0 burst put Los Angeles on top in the third quarter and a jumper by Hill made it 69-59 with 3:02 to go before the Lakers saw their lead trimmed to 73-70 entering the final stanza.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Lillard missed a free throw with 6.7 seconds left to prevent him from his third 40-point outing of the season. … C Chris Kaman collected 11 rebounds while drawing the start with both Robin Lopez (hand) and Joel Freeland (shoulder) injured. … Lakers SF Wesley Johnson (hip flexor) sat out after being hurt in Sunday’s game against Indiana.