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PORTLAND, Ore. wholesale jerseys . -- With Portland trailing Utah to start the fourth quarter, Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard did what an All-Star is supposed to do. Lillard scored 14 points in the final period and finished with 28 for the short-handed Trail Blazers in a much-needed 102-94 victory over Utah on Friday night. "I definitely feel like theres times I have to assert myself," he said. Lillard grabbed attention last weekend by taking part in a record five All-Star events. Last-seasons Rookie of the Year was a first-time All-Star, earning a spot on the West team by vote of the conferences coaches. The Blazers need Lillard to take over games like he did against the Jazz in the absence of fellow All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge, who sat out with a left groin injury. Robin Lopez had 12 points and a career-high 18 rebounds for the Blazers, who avoided a season-high fourth straight loss as they struggle to keep pace in the Western Conference. "When youre going through a tough stretch, its hard to get back on track sometimes," Lillard said. "This win will get us back on track." Enes Kanter matched his career-high with 25 points and added 10 rebounds for the Jazz, who lost their second straight after a three-game winning streak. Utah opened the final quarter with a 73-64 lead, but Portland answered with a 7-0 run to close within 73-71 and went ahead on Lillards 3-pointer with 9:18 left. Energized by regaining the lead, Lillards alley-oop dunk off a dish from Nicolas Batum made it 80-75 with 6:07 left. "Hes always in attack mode," Utahs Trey Burke said of Lillard. Utah kept it close down the stretch, with Richard Jeffersons 3-pointer narrowing the gap to 85-83. Batum answered with a 3-pointer for the Blazers. Kanters jumper got Utah within 94-91 with 1:21 to go, but Mo Williams jumper extended it again for the Blazers, who cruised the rest of the way. Portland outscored the Jazz 38-21 in the final period. "I thought in the fourth quarter we had a nice cushion," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "They just came out right from the beginning of the fourth and got a turnover and made a 3-point shot. We made another mistake and they scored on it, and they ran from there." Portland was playing its second game without Aldridge, who leads the team with 23.9 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. He is expected to sit out Sunday nights game against Minnesota before he is reevaluated. Dorell Wright started in Aldridges place. The Blazers also were without forward Joel Freeland, who has a right knee sprain, and Meyers Leonard, who sprained his left ankle in practice on Monday. Portlands front court got even thinner when Batum, who has been fighting the flu, retreated to the locker room late in the first half. Will Barton started the second half, but Batum returned late in the third quarter. The Jazz were without forward Derrick Favours, who missed his second straight game because of hip issues. Favours is averaging 12.9 points and nine rebounds a game. Kanter started in his place and led both teams with 15 points at the half. The Blazers led by as many as six points in the first quarter, but the Jazz closed in and went ahead 19-18 on Diante Garretts driving layup. Portland reclaimed a 28-25 lead midway through the second quarter on Bartons fast-break 360-degree dunk. Lillards 3-pointer extended the lead to 43-37. Both teams wrestled for the lead through the third quarter, until the Jazz appeared to make a move, going up 62-57 on Trey Burkes deep 3-pointer. It was Utahs biggest lead of the game to that point. Utah extended the lead to 68-60 on Alec Burks layup. NOTES: Blazers coach Terry Stotts wore a plaid sportcoat and an open-collared shirt in honour of Dr. Jack Ramsays 89th birthday. Ramsay coached the Trail Blazers to the 1977 NBA title, hence the throwback outfit. "Im not much of a fashionista, but I think he was able to pull it off," Lopez said. ... The Blazers have won the first three meetings against the Jazz for the first time since 1997-98. ... Portland was 17-of-17 from the free-throw line. wholesale nfl jerseys . LOUIS -- St. cheap jerseys from china . The 25-year-old Spaniard, who joined United from Chelsea in January, scored twice, including directly from a free kick, to take his tally to three goals in his last two games. "I think he has made us better," United manager David Moyes said. SEATTLE -- Once the scrum subsided, a visitor made his way over to Chad Barrett in the Seattle locker room after an introduction that could not have been more dramatic for the home side. "That," Sounders majority owner Joe Roth joked, "is why we brought you here." Barrett scored off a wild scramble in the penalty area in the final moments of second half-stoppage time to give Seattle a 1-0 victory over defending champion Sporting Kansas City on Saturday in the Major League Soccer opener. Seattle shocked Kansas City with a goal in stoppage time for the fifth time in the past eight matches. Barrett scored in his Sounders debut after Clint Dempseys header clanged off the crossbar and goalkeeper Eric Kronberg was caught out of his net. "When I scored I couldnt even hear myself scream," Barrett said. "Im pretty sure I was screaming or I was going through puberty. One of the two." The goal was a stunning conclusion after it appeared Kansas City would be happy to open its title defence getting out of Seattle with a draw. Barretts goal started with a strong crossing pass by substitute Sean Okoli, but the play itself started after Graham Zusi committed a turnover in the midfield. Kronberg came out of the net to try and punch Okolis cross and the deflection allowed Dempsey a clear header. Dempseys attempt hit the crossbar but he was able to keep the play alive and get his toe on the loose ball. He was trying for a scissor-kick shot on goal, but it trickled forward far enough that Barrett was able to finish off the game winner. "For 90 plus minutes, we were excellent. We were very hard to break down and had a couple chances of our own," Zusi said. "A stupid mistake by me in the 93rd minute, and we got punished. Thats something that cant happen." Dempsey came on in the 577th minute just a few days after playing 90 minutes for the U. cheap jerseys. S. national team in an exhibition loss to Ukraine in Cyprus. He was credited with an assist, his second since joining the Sounders. "Getting a goal in injury time does show that youre fighting to the end. But it is a long season," Dempsey said. It was the first match played with replacement officials after Major League Soccers referees and other on-field officials were locked out Friday. There appeared to be no egregious issues with referee Alan Kelly, other than the large number of fouls called. Kansas City was called for 25 fouls and Seattle 15. Both goalkeepers made their debuts as the No. 1 options for their clubs. For Kansas City, Kronbergs first match as the successor to long-time starter Jimmy Nielsen was a success for the first 93 minutes. He was peppered by chances throughout by Seattle and denied each one until the end. It was the first time in 90 matches someone other than Nielsen started in goal for Kansas City. "It was a lot of excitement for sure -- some nerves and stuff, but once you get out on the field its like every other day," Kronberg said. Stefan Frei wasnt challenged as much in Seattles goal, but came up with the shutout. Dempseys minutes were slightly surprising given his recent schedule. After playing against Ukraine, Dempsey travelled all day Thursday and trained with the Sounders on Friday. It was his first training with the Sounders since the end of last season after spending the winter on loan with English Premier League club Fulham. "With all the travel and stuff, getting in on Thursday, we wanted to be a little bit smarter because of the history of myself and some of the other players can pick up injuries if you push too hard, too quickly after long travel," Dempsey said. cheap jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '
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