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The Portland Trail Blazers, along with the San Antonio Spurs, are competing for the chance to try and avoid having the top seed in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers, as their opponent. so I think it is safe to say that the Blazers are playing with a sense of urgency in the remaining games of the regular season.

The Blazers, ironically or not, went to Staples Center to take on the Lakers. Usually, this game would be a big deal. For Portland it was as playoff seeding is at stake while Los Angeles is just riding the string until the playoffs. Yet, the Lakers chose to start Kobe Bryant despite his various injuries (broken finger, sprained ankle and swollen knee); despite his presence on the hardwood, Martell Webster’s three free throws with 3.1 seconds left allowed Portland to edge Los Angeles 91-88. The win allowed the Trail Blazers to be tied for seventh in the Conference seedings.

The first three quarters of the contest were of the “grind-it-out” variety as neither team had more than a 9-point lead, with the fourth quarter being the key section of the game.

After a sub-par performance which didn’t include a free throw until the last 31 seconds, Bryant drained a three-pointer and a 3-point play in the final minute while the Lakers rallied from a 7-point deficit to take an 87-86 lead. But after a Marcus Camby tip-in, Bryant muffed a pair of free throws.

Pau Gasol rebounded Bryant’s second miss and got it to Fisher, who was fouled by Andre Miller. Miller missed the first free throw before making the second one and tying the game with 4.7 seconds left. Then things got a tad weird. Webster, instead of opting for the safer shot, decided for an awkward three-point attempt and Fisher somehow fouled him behind the arc. Webster drained all three free throws, sealing the game for Portland.

LaMarcus Aldridge led all Trail Blazers scorers with 24 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists while Webster came off the bench to add 16 with 3 rebounds and an assist; Miller chipped in 15 with 2 rebounds and 7 assists while Camby, although he scored 10, grabbed 17 rebounds and blocked 4 shots.

The Lakers were led by Gasol with 23 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal and 3 blocks while Bryant added 20 (including three 3-pointers) with 4 rebounds and 2 assists; Lamar Odom notched a double-double, scoring 16 with 15 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and a block..

Portland (49-31) plays again on Monday when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder while Los Angeles (56-24) travels north to Sacramento to take on the Kings Tuesday night.