PORTLAND, Ore. -- Kevin Durant said the mutual admiration between the Thunder and the Trail Blazers only goes so far. "We respect this team and they respect us, but we dont like them and they dont like us," Durant said after Oklahoma Citys hard-fought 98-95 victory over Portland on Tuesday night. "Point blank." Durant had 36 points and 10 rebounds as the Thunder evened the series against the Blazers 2-2 in their final regular-season meeting this year. Jeremy Lamb had 19 points, including a key 3-pointer with 1:38 left for the Western Conference-leading Thunder, who have won 14 of their last 16 games. Nicolas Batum had 18 points for slumping Portland, which has lost five of seven but still ranks third in the conference behind San Antonio. Robin Lopez finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds for his 19th double-double of the season. LaMarcus Aldridge, who missed a mid-range jumper in the final seconds that could have salvaged the win for Portland, was asked what he thought of Durants comment. "Were not trying to make friends out there," he said. "Were trying to win games." Portland led by as many as 13 points in the first half and held a 55-45 advantage at the break, but the Thunder kept chipping away and the teams went into the fourth quarter tied at 80. Derek Fisher hit a 3-pointer and Lamb made a layup to put the Thunder up 85-84. Portland reclaimed the lead on rookie CJ McCollums running shot, but Durant re-tied it at 91 with a long hook. The teams wrestled for the lead until Lambs 3-pointer gave the Thunder a 96-95 advantage. Damian Lillard missed a 3-pointer for Portland with 45.9 seconds left. Portland got the ball with 12.3 seconds left after officials reviewed an out-of-bounds call, but LaMarcus Aldridges mid-range jumper with 2 seconds left was off and Reggie Jackson hit free throws for the final margin. "We fought hard," Durant said. "Were a resilient team. Weve kept our heads up through adversity and tough times. Im proud of our team." Portland won two of the first three meetings between the two teams, but the Thunder won the last 105-97 in Oklahoma City last month. Durant paced the Thunder with 42 points in that one. Aldridge was a game-time decision because of soreness, but he started and finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds. The Blazers are the only team that has started the same five players in all of their games this season. Aldridge was disappointed with the loss -- and especially his final missed shot. "I couldnt throw a rock in a lake tonight," Aldridge said. Portland jumped out to a quick 18-6 lead, but the Blazers were hurt late in the opening quarter when reserve forward Joel Freelands right knee buckled underneath him and he had to be helped off the court. The extent of the injury was not immediately known, but the Blazers depend on the 6-foot-11 Brit to spell starting centre Lopez. The Thunder closed to 25-21 on Lambs 12-foot jumper early in the second quarter. Portland held them off, but Lambs dunk narrowed it to 34-32 and the Thunder finally pulled ahead 41-39 on Lambs 3-pointer. The Blazers answered with a 16-4 run to take a 55-45 lead into halftime. The Thunder again threatened when Kendrick Perkins jumper got them within 66-63. Serge Ibakas jumper with 2:18 left in the third finally gave Oklahoma City a 76-75 lead, their first of the second half. Jackson led the rally with 13 points after going 0-for-6 in the first half. The teams went into the fourth quarter tied at 80. "It was a physical game, but I like the fact that we kept competing and didnt let anything bother us," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "We just competed, possession by possession. And thats what good teams do." The Blazers were coming off a 2-2 road trip, including 117-110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. Following the loss to the Thunder, they were headed to Los Angeles for a game against the Clippers on Wednesday night before the All-Star break. The Thunder were coming off a 112-100 victory over the New York Knicks, with Durants 41 points leading the way. NOTES: Portland was without guard Mo Williams, who had just returned from attending to a family matter. It was hoped that Williams could travel with the team to face the Clippers on Wednesday night. ... Aldridge and Lillard were presented with their All-Star jerseys before the game. ... Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha appeared to injure his right hand in the first half, but he returned to start the second half with his hand taped. ... Freeland was scheduled for an MRI on his knee. ... The Thunder had three technical in the game, and the Blazers had one. Joakim Nygard Jersey . Lawries batting helmet hit an umpire during his ninth-inning outburst in the Jays 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The 22-year-old threw his helmet to the ground and it bounced up and hit home plate umpire Bill Miller on the right hip after Lawrie was called out on strikes for the second out. Dave Semenko Jersey . The Senators return from a lengthy layoff caused by Wednesdays attack on Parliament Hill to host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night. https://www.cheapoilers.com/1685s-brando...html.Hoffenheim forward Anthony Modeste opened the scoring on a counterattack in the 15th minute, shooting though Jaroslav Drobnys legs after Lewis Holtby lost the ball in midfield. Paul Shmyr Jersey . The 24-year-old Raley was 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA for Chicago in his first two career starts after being called up from Iowa on Aug. 7. He was optioned to Iowa on Monday after losing 3-0 to Cincinnati in Chicago on Sunday. Chris Pronger Jersey . The 55th-ranked Istomin saved 11 of 14 break points to win in just over two hours, setting up a second round meeting with Australian Marinko Matosevic. It was the Uzbeks third win in three matches against fifth-seeded Kohlschreiber, the 2007 and 2012 tournament winner.NEW ORLEANS - The Memphis Grizzlies, Boston Celtics and New Orleans Pelicans have agreed on a five-player trade that would send forward Jeff Green from Boston to Memphis, a person familiar with the situation said Saturday.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade hasnt been announced and formal approval by the NBA is not expected until Monday morning.Forward Tayshaun Prince would go from Memphis to Boston and forward Quincy Pondexter from Memphis to New Orleans.The trade also would send guard Austin Rivers, the 10th overall pick in 2012, from New Orleans to Boston, and 2014 second-round pick Russ Smith, a point guard, from New Orleans to Memphis. Memphis also will send a protected first-round draft choice to Boston and a second-rounder to New Orleans.The trade is expected to provide more offence for Memphis, which is in a tight race for the Southwest Division lead. The Grizzlies (25-11) were leading the division until losing at New Orleans on Friday night, marking Memphis sixth loss in 10 games.Green is averaging a team-high 17.6 points for Boston, but the Celtics (12-23) are rebuilding. The Grizzlies are firmly in the Western Conference playoff picture and narrowly behind Dallas for the lead in their division.Pondexter started his career in New Orleans, which acquired him in a trade with Oklahoma City during the first-round of the 2010 draft.The following season, however, New Orleaans needed an experienced point guard after a trade that sent All-Star Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers, so Pondexter was dealt to Memphis in exchange for Greivis Vasquez, who now plays for Toronto.ddddddddddddThis season, however, the Pelicans had a glut at guard and have been thin at small forward, rotating several players into the starting lineup at that spot this season, including Tyreke Evans, whose more natural position is at guard. Dante Cunningham, who was signed in December, started at small forward against Memphis on Friday.Now the 6-foot-7 Pondexter returns to a team where he is expected to either start or at least be in the regular rotation with Cunningham.Pondexter is known more for his defensive acumen, making him a good fit on a Pelicans squad which already has a handful of scorers including Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans, Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon.New Orleans next plays Monday night in Boston, the beginning of a five-game Northeastern swing that comes as the Pelicans (18-18) try to stay within striking distance of a Western Conference playoff spot.Prince has an expiring $7.7 million contract, which should strengthen Bostons ability to bid for free agents next off-season. Rivers was struggling to earn consistent minutes on New Orleans backcourt and has an expiring $2.4 million contract after the Pelicans decided not to exercise a team option on him for the 2015-16 season. ' ' '