Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge, middle, shoots between Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant, left, and Steven Adams during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013. AP/Don Ryan
PORTLAND — Portland took over as the NBA Western Conference leader by beating Oklahoma City 111-104 on Wednesday, ending the Thunder’s eight-game winning streak.
LaMarcus Aldridge had a season-high 38 points and added 13 rebounds for the Trail Blazers.
Portland moved half a game above San Antonio for the West lead because the Spurs’ scheduled game against Minnesota in Mexico City had to be abandoned due to a fire in the generator room which choked the arena with smoke just before tipoff.
Elsewhere, an accurate Phoenix downed Houston, Kyle Korver matched a 3-point record as Atlanta beat the Los Angeles Clippers and Indiana notched an overdue win at Utah.
Portland’s Nicolas Batum hit a 3-pointer with 29.9 seconds to go that all but sealed it for the Blazers, who have won 14 of their past 15 games. The win also snapped Oklahoma City’s seven-game winning streak against the Blazers.
Kevin Durant finished with 33 for the Thunder.