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Blazers edge Warriors in OT thriller

Apr 14, 2014 - 5:08 AM Portland, OR (SportsNetwork.com) - The Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors put on a show Sunday that saw numerous lead changes, unlikely buzzer- beaters and a 47-point performance from a losing player.

LaMarcus Aldridge led the Blazers with 26 points and put in the go-ahead basket with under a minute left in overtime as Portland outlasted the Golden State Warriors, 119-117, at an electric Moda Center.

The playoff teams were battling for positioning in the Western Conference standings, and Portland pulled within a half-game of the Rockets for the No. 4 seed. Golden State just needs a win over the Timberwolves on Monday or against the Nuggets on Wednesday to wrap up the sixth seed.

The way Sunday played out, it almost seemed as if the playoffs already began.

Stephen Curry exploded for 47 points on 16-of-29 shooting and made seven of Golden State's 17 3-pointers.

"He had 47, but we still got the win," Blazers swingman Wesley Matthews said.

The All-Star guard's best play, however, wound up being a pass, as he drew two defenders on the right wing as time ticked away in regulation and dished to an open Draymond Green.

Green faked as if he was going to take it the basket, but stepped back and launched a tying 3-pointer from the top of the key with 3.9 seconds left, and Matthews missed a 3-point attempt at the buzzer to force extra time.

Aldridge's 20-footer with 39.9 seconds to play provided the sixth and final lead change of OT, and Curry missed a runner at the other end.

After Damian Lillard split a pair at the foul line, Curry again found the ball in his hands with the game on the line and decided to give it up, only this time Andre Iguodala drew iron from 24 feet away as the buzzer sounded.

"Great game, unfortunately we weren't on the right end of it," Curry said.

Lillard, just 2-for-9 from the field over the first three quarters, struck from behind the arc to cap a fourth-quarter opening 11-2 run that opened up an 87-77 lead for the Blazers.

Curry made sure Portland didn't pull away, scoring 13 points in a variety of ways during five of Golden State's next six possessions to pull the Warriors within 95-93. Iguodala's reverse layup evened things at 95-95 with under five minutes to go.

Aldridge answered the 10-0 run with four straight points, but Klay Thompson drained a 3-pointer and Curry juked Robin Lopez in the lane for an easy two to give the Warriors their first lead of the quarter at 100-99.

The lead changed hands two more times in regulation, and Matthews' two free throws with 12.5 seconds remaining gave Portland a short-lived 105-102 lead prior to Green's tying 3.

The Warriors only scored 19 points in the opening quarter and were trailing 26-19 after Nicolas Batum opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer.

Golden State, though, scored the final eight points of the half -- three coming from the foul line after Curry was fouled by Lillard on an off-balanced try from behind the arc -- to take a 52-44 cushion into the break.

The visitors stayed in front until Portland ripped off a 14-2 run in the late stages of the third. Matthews struck twice from behind the arc, including a triple that ended the surge and gave the Blazers a 76-71 lead.

Jermaine O'Neal scored the final four points of the frame to make it a 76-75 game.

Game Notes

There ware 16 lead changes and nine ties ... Curry has recorded six career 40- point games ... Thompson sank six 3-pointers and finished with 25 points .... Matthews totaled 24 points, while Batum and Mo Williams each scored 18 with Batum grabbing 12 rebounds ... Portland outscored the Warriors at the free throw line 23-12 ... The Blazers finish their regular season Wednesday night with a home game against the Los Angeles Clippers.