NBA Wrap: Aldridge scores career-high 44 in win

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PORTLAND, Ore. -- LaMarcus Aldridge had a career-high 44 points and 13 rebounds, and the Portland Trail Blazers rallied for a 110-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.

Wesley Matthews added 24 points for the Blazers (32-11), who snapped a two-game losing streak coming off a 2-2 road trip. The Blazers have not lost three straight this season.

Wilson Chandler had 18 points for Denver (20-21), which has lost four of their last five games after a five-game winning streak.

The Blazers trailed by as many as 15 points in the third quarter, but chipped away at Denver's lead to pull to 91-90 on Wesley Matthews' turnaround fadeaway before taking the lead on his 15-foot jumper.

The teams wrestled for control, but Aldridge's jumper put Portland up a 102-99 with 3:08 left.

Chandler and Timofey Mozgov made consecutive baskets to regain the lead for Denver, and it was back-and-forth until Aldridge made four consecutive free throws to shouts of "M-V-P," from the Portland crowd, giving the Blazers a 108-105 lead.

Chandler missed a jumper with 8 seconds left and Aldridge made more free throws for the final margin. The two-time All-Star, who came in a disappointing fifth among Western Conference frontcourt players in All-Star voting, made eight straight free throws to close the game (see full recap).

Bosh, James lead Heat to win
MIAMI -- Chris Bosh scored 31 points, LeBron James added 27 points and 13 rebounds and the Miami Heat never trailed in a 109-102 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night.

Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole each finished with 11 points to help the Heat beat the Lakers for the eighth time in their last nine meetings. Ray Allen added 10, and Miami shot 58 percent and outrebounded the Lakers 48-35.

Jodie Meeks and Pau Gasol each scored 22 points for the Lakers, who lost for the 14th time in their last 17 outings. Nick Young added 19 points -- needing 20 shots to do it -- for Los Angeles, which nearly came all the way back from a 16-point second-half deficit.

Bosh had the biggest shot of the night with 54.4 seconds left, head-faking his way free at the top of the key, stepping in and hitting a 20-footer to give Miami a 108-101 lead and making it a three-possession game. The Heat forced a miss on the Lakers' next trip, then held on from there.

The Heat improved to 28-5 when Bosh scores at least 25 points and 9-0 when he gets at least 20 shots, those records including postseason play.

And with Dwyane Wade out again, Bosh took advantage of the extra opportunities (see full recap).

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