Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - C.J. McCollum scored a career-high 27 points to power the Portland Trail Blazers to a 107-77 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.
The Trail Blazers clinched the Northwest Division title earlier Friday when Memphis beat Oklahoma City. It's the first time they won the division since finishing in a tie with Denver at the end of the 2008-09 season.
Damian Lillard and Arron Afflalo netted 20 and 17 points, respectively, while LaMarcus Aldridge supplied 14 points and eight rebounds in Portland's fifth win in its last six games.
"I'm just trying to be aggressive," McCollum said. "I want to come in and make an impact in the game, whether that is being aggressive or scoring."
Jordan Clarkson finished with 27 points, seven rebounds and five assists and Wesley Johnson contributed 11 points and 15 rebounds for the Lakers, who have lost four of their last five games.
"We couldn't respond to them," Los Angeles head coach Byron Scott said. "They came out really aggressive in the fourth quarter on both ends of the floor."
Lillard poured in 14 points on 4-of-4 shooting from 3-point range in the first quarter and the Trail Blazers led 26-12 after 12 minutes.
In the second quarter, Afflalo and McCollum bookended an 8-1 run with 3s to push Portland's lead to 23 points. But Clarkson knocked down consecutive treys as the Lakers ended the stanza with 10 straight points to whittle the deficit to 52-39 at halftime.
After the Trail Blazers kept the Lakers at bay in the third quarter, McCollum netted nine points in a 14-1 run to start the final frame and Portland cruised the rest of the way.
Game Notes
Portland won its first outright division title since the 1998-99 season ... The Trail Blazers won all four games against the Lakers this season, completing their first sweep of them since 1993-94 ... Clarkson was named the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for March ... Johnson posted his third double-double of the season and tied a career high in rebounds.
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