EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Brandon Roy scored 10 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and the Portland Trail Blazers avoided blowing a big lead for a second straight game by holding off the New Jersey Nets 102-93 on Tuesday night.
LaMarcus Aldridge added 27 points and Andre Miller had 20 as the Trail Blazers overcame an ankle injury to recently acquired center Marcus Camby in snapping a two-game losing streak and winning for only the sixth time in 14 games.
The second game of that slide came Sunday when Portland squandered a 25-point lead and lost to Utah in overtime.
Courtney Lee and Devin Harris led the Nets with 28 points apiece. The total matched Lee's career high set earlier this season and was a season high for Harris.
The Nets (5-52) cut a 21-point second-half deficit to five points several times in the fourth quarter, but couldn't get over the hump.
The victory, coupled with New Orleans' loss to Cleveland, gave the Trail Blazers a two-game lead in the race for the final playoff berth in the Western Conference.
New Jersey made Portland work in losing its fourth straight. The Nets, who blew an 18-point first half lead in a loss to Memphis on Sunday, rallied from the 21-point deficit by shooting almost 77 percent from the field in the third quarter.
Lee and Harris were the catalysts, combining for 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting. The 33-point quarter got New Jersey within 77-70 entering the final quarter.
New Jersey closed to within five points four times in the final 6:11, but Roy answered the first three times, hitting two of three free throws, a baseline jumper and drive, the last one with 3:57 to go for a 93-86 lead.
Harris hit two free throws to close the gap to 93-88 with 3:45 to go, but Miller nailed a 3-pointer and Roy made two free throws after Harris hit a drive for a 98-90 lead.
The only basket the Nets hit after that was a three-quarter court 3-pointer by Lee at the buzzer.
Portland was dominant in the first half, shooting nearly 59 percent in taking a 56-37 lead.
Roy scored 12 points in the first quarter to help the Trail Blazers build a 32-22 lead, and Aldridge had 10 in the second to push the advantage to 56-37.
Camby, acquired on Feb. 16 from the Los Angeles Clippers for Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw and cash considerations, was hurt when Nets center Brook Lopez (17 points, 10 rebounds) appeared to step on his ankle as both waited for a rebound with 6:47 left in the first quarter.
Ironically, the last time Camby played here with the Clippers on Jan. 27, he also didn't get out of the first quarter. He bruised his ribs and left after seven minutes.
Portland has already lost centers Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla for the season with injuries.
Notes
Aldridge has scored at least 15 points in 18 straight games. … Nets starting small forward Jarvis Hayes missed the game with a strained left calf. … Harris picked up four fouls in the first half and none in the second. … Harris knocked referee David Jones into the front row of seats late in the fourth quarter going for a loose ball. … Portland has won five straight against New Jersey.