PORTLAND — LaMarcus Aldridge — whose future has become the hot-button topic of these NBA playoffs — had another poor shooting night.
He missed eight of his first 10 shots and then missed 10 of his final 11.
But behind 32 points and seven assists from Damian Lillard as well as huge contributions from CJ McCollum and Meyers Leonard, the Portland Trail Blazers fought to live another day, sending the best-of-seven series back to Memphis with a 99-92 win.
“It was good to get a win. That’s an understatement,” said head coach Terry Stotts.
Lillard led the charge, turning in a Lillard Time performance that included a clutch four-point play with 1:58 left to give them a two-point lead.
“Damian’s a competitor,” Stotts said. “He’s pretty determined.”
McCollum’s 3-pointer on the next possession gave Portland a 3-point lead, which they would never relinquish.
A great first half for the Blazers saw them lead by as much as 13 over the Mike Conley-less Grizzlies.
Things took a grim turn in the second half.
The momentum that Portland had to end the first half quickly evaporated in the second half behind an 0-for-5 start and a pair of turnovers.
They did not make a field goal until the 5:18 mark of the quarter.
Memphis’ trademark grit-and-grind defense resumed sucking the life out of the Blazers as it has for the entire series.
All told, the Blazers lost the third quarter 27-13 and they shot 5 of 20.
The start in the third quarter forced Stotts to go back to Leonard and McCollum, who were instrumental in building the first half lead.
A shot-clock beating 3-pointer by Jeff Green gave the Grizzlies a 10-point lead at 80-70 with 8:48 left in the game, which was their biggest lead of the night.
Portland went back to the line-up that built its lead to 13-points with McCollum, Leonard, Batum, Lillard and Aldridge.
Out of a timeout with six minutes left, the Blazers went back to Aldridge, though he struggled all night long.
He responded with back-to-back trips to the line to pull Portland within two.
And with big responses from his teammates, the Blazers are going back to Memphis for a Game 5.
Portland’s great first half would not have happened without Leonard and McCollum. Portland rebounded behind the youthful energy of Leonard and McCollum — who combined for 31 points off the bench and went a combined 5 of 5 from long range.
Leonard was deemed “one of the few bright spots in the series,” by head coach Terry Stotts prior to Game 3, only to sit him in favor of a laboring Chris Kaman playing on one leg.
“It felt good,” Leonard said of his 13-point, 13-rebound effort in 35 minutes after playing just five minutes in the previous game. “You always have to stay ready is kind of the thing that I would say. I prepared like I always do, understanding this was a big game.
But Leonard’s energy on the defensive end, bodying Marc Gasol, and perfect 3-point shooting gave Portland a boost they needed off the bench.
“I’m more proud of his defense than offense,” Batum said. “He grew up.”
Lillard was masterful for the second night in a row after a pair of no-shows in the opening two games in Memphis.
The Grizzlies did not show up to Game 4 with a full-compliment after point guard Mike Conley flew to Memphis to undergo surgery to repair fractures in his face.
Aldridge’s shot reverted to its earlier form and the Blazers looked lost, starting the same starting five to started the first half poorly.
But Portland has lived to tell about it or at least to talk about it for another plane ride.
