It wasn’t at all a sure thing, but the Portland Trail Blazers delivered when it counted to fend off a hot Detroit Pistons squad 117-112 Saturday night at the Moda Center.
The Blazers looked to be rolling early in the first half, and built a lead as large as 12 points, but Detroit refused to go away behind Blake Griffin and Reggie Jackson, who always seem to be having big games in Portland. The Pistons clawed back and even held on to a small lead for a bit before some clutch play from Damian Lillard and Al-Farouq Aminu managed to restore order.