PORTLAND — It didn’t matter that it was the Rose Garden. The “M-V-P!” chant for Kobe Bryant was loud and clear. Bryant scored a season-high 47 points and carried the Los Angeles Lakers closer to a playoff berth with a 113-106 victory over the short-handed but tenacious Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.

PORTLAND — The Portland Trail Blazers are pretty happy with how their point guard situation has turned out. Damian Lillard had 26 points and 10 assists to lead the Trail Blazers to a 105-90 victory over the Knicks on Thursday night, outplaying New York point guard Raymond Felton in his return to Portland.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — For the second straight home game, the Memphis Grizzlies overcame a significant deficit to escape with a win.