Damian Lillard scored a season-high 60 points, hitting nine 3-pointers, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Utah Jazz 134-124 on Wednesday night.

Lillard tied for second-most in the NBA this season. Donovan Mitchell had 71 for Cleveland against Chicago on Jan. 3.

Jerami Grant added 19 points to help Portland win its second straight game.

Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 24 points. He had a layup followed by a tip shot with 5:20 left that got Utah to 115-108.

Grant and Anfernee Simons had back-to-back dunks to put Portland up 121-110 and the Blazers led comfortably the rest of the way.

When Lillard came to the free-throw line late in the game, the home crowd stood and chanted 'MVP! 'MVP!' Lillard missed a jump shot with 29.1 seconds left that would have topped his career best 61.

Lillard has four career games of 60 points or more. He's reached 61 twice.

After struggling for much of January, the Blazers were coming off a morale-boosting 147-127 victory over San Antonio on Monday.

Lillard had 26 points in the first half, hitting six 3s.

Lillard finished 21 of 29 from the field, 9 of 15 on 3s and 9 of 10 at the line. He also had eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals.

Rookie Walker Kessler has been starting for the Jazz in Kelly Olynyk´s absence because of a left ankle strain. The 7-foot-1 center ranks among the lead leaders in blocks, with 1.9 per game.

Jazz coach Will Harvey said part of Walker's development is knowing he belongs at the NBA level.

'I think he's getting some good feedback when he watches the film with the coaches, but I really think that he's getting a lot of feedback from his teammates, and they're empowering him,' Harvey said. 

'The things that they say to him in the huddle, in the locker room, pregame, postgame and at practice, make him feel like he's a big part of what we're doing and that he does belong and I think that's where you're seeing his confidence grow.'

WARRIORS 122, GRIZZLIES 120

The Golden State Warriors won a neck-and-neck contest 122-120 after Jordan Poole hit a game winning layup leaving only one second left on the game clock.

Stephen Curry was ejected in the fourth quarter for throwing his mouthpiece into the stands after becoming frustrated following a missed shot. 

Before the ejection Curry record 34 points and was shooting 10-11 from the foul line. 

76ERS 137, NETS 133 

James Harden hit two 3-pointers and had a driving layup in the final four minutes against his former Brooklyn teammates and the Philadelphia 76ers stretched their winning streak to six games, outscoring the Nets 137-133 on Wednesday night.

Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 27 points, and Joel Embiid had 26. Harden added 23, and Philadelphia was 35 of 36 from the foul line.

Seth Curry had a season-high 32 points for Brooklyn. Kyrie Irving had 30 for the Nets, who have lost five of the last seven games without Kevin Durant.

The game was the first regular-season matchup between Embiid and former teammate Ben Simmons since a February 2022 trade that sent Simmons to Brooklyn for Harden. Simmons missed the rest of the 2022 season with various injuries, then Embiid was injured and missed the Sixers' win in Simmons' Philadelphia return November 22.

BUCKS 107, NUGGETS 99

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 33 points and 14 rebounds to help Milwaukee beat defeated short-handed Denver.

The Western Conference-leading Nuggets were missing four usual starters in two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic (left hamstring tightness), Jamal Murray (left knee/injury management), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (sprained right wrist) and Michael Porter Jr. (personal reasons).

Jokic returned Tuesday night after missing two games and had his fourth straight triple-double in a 99-98 victory at New Orleans. But he rested the hamstring Wednesday rather than playing on back-to-back nights.

Aaron Gordon had 26 points and 13 rebounds for the Nuggets.

TIMBERWOLVES 111, PELICANS 102

Anthony Edwards scored 37 points, Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 12 rebounds in his return from a groin injury, and Minnesota spoiled New Orleans star Brandon Ingram's return from a two-month absence.

Ingram, who had not played since November 25 and had missed 29 games with a left toe injury, scored 13 points but struggled with his shot, missing 14 of 18, including all six attempts from deep.

CJ McCollum scored 25 points, and Jonas Valanciunas added 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Pelicans. They lost their sixth straight and dropped their ninth in the 12 games missed by star power forward Zion Williamson (right hamstring).

WIZARDS 108, ROCKETS 103

Kyle Kuzma scored 20 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter to help Washington rally past Houston.

The Wizards trailed by 19 points and were down by 10 to open the fourth quarter.

Houston's Alperen Sengun had 21 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his second career triple-double.

HAWKS 137, THUNDER 132

Trae Young had 33 points and 11 assists in Atlanta's victory over Oklahoma City.

Dejounte Murray scored 21 points and Bogdan Bogdanovic added 20.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 36 points for Oklahoma City.

MAGIC 126, PACERS 120

Paolo Banchero scored 23 points, Garry Harris made all six of his 3-pointers and added 22 points and Orlando held Indiana.

Orlando made 15 of 28 attempts from 3-point range and shot 56 percent overall.

Bennedict Mathurin had 26 points for Indiana for the second straight game. Myles Turner added 22 points and 13 rebounds.

RAPTORS 113, KINGS 95

Pascal Siakam had 26 points and 11 rebounds as the Toronto Raptors beat the Pacific Division-leading Sacramento Kings 113-95 on Wednesday night.

Fred VanVleet scored 17 points and O.G. Anunoby added 11 for the Raptors, who had lost four of their last six games entering the contest. Precious Achiuwa added 19 points and Chris Boucher came off the bench to score 16.

Kevin Huerter scored 21 points to lead the Kings (27-20), who entered the game with seven wins in their last eight games. Keegan Murray hit four 3-pointers and added 16 points, while De'Aaron Fox finished with 16 points and eight assists.

LAKERS 113, SPURS 104

Anthony Davis scored 21 points in his return from a right foot injury, LeBron James added 20 and the Los Angeles Lakers bounced back from a rough loss to beat the San Antonio Spurs 113-104 on Wednesday night.

Davis, who missed 20 games due to a stress injury suffered during the first half of a Dec. 16 game at Denver, came in with 4:22 remaining in the first quarter. He was 7 of 15 from the field and also had 12 rebounds in 26 minutes for his 19th double-double in 26 games played this season.

Patrick Beverley scored a season-high 18 and Rui Hachimura added 12 in his Lakers debut.

Keldon Johnson had 25 points and Zach Collins scored 16 for San Antonio, which has won just five times in 22 road games.