DENVER -- The Trail Blazers took Denvers best shot -- and the Nuggets took way too many errant shots thanks to Portlands stifling defence. Damian Lillard made up for the absence of fellow All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge by scoring 31 points in the Trail Blazers 100-95 win over the Nuggets on Tuesday night, including a pair of free throws and a layup in the closing minutes to help hold off Denvers fourth-quarter rally. "It was a difficult game," Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. "We did a lot of good things, made some big plays defensively to win it at the end. The offence kind of shut down in the fourth quarter but our defence stayed solid, and to get a win like this in Denver is something we needed to do." The Nuggets trimmed an 18-point deficit to two but couldnt catch the Blazers. Denver made just 37 of 103 shots, including 27 of 64 in the paint, and couldnt even find the rim at the line, missing 9 of 26 free throws. Lillard scored 12 points in the third quarter when it looked as if to the Blazers were headed for a blowout win, but he saved his biggest shots for late in the fourth. Lillards clutch shooting helped Portland overcome a terrific performance by Denvers J.J. Hickson, who pulled down a career-high 25 rebounds, including 15 on the offensive side. Hickson led the Nuggets to a 64-41 advantage on the glass, appearing as a reserve power forward after starting 52 games at centre this season. "Twenty-five boards is exciting, but the win would have been more exciting," Hickson said. The Blazers again went with a smaller lineup with Aldridge missing his fourth straight game with a strained left groin, and Dorell Wright helped make up for Aldridges team-high 23.9 points and 11.4 rebounds by giving Denver another long-range shooter to defend. As Nuggets coach Brian Shaw said before tip-off when talking about Aldridges absence, "Theres a big sigh of relief that you dont have to deal with that, but at the same time it just creates a different type of problem: Theyre one of the best -- if not the best -- 3-point shooting teams in the league. Theyre the best free-throw shooting team in the league. Theyre the highest-scoring team in the league." Six Blazers scored in double figures, including Nicolas Batums 16 points. Aldridge averaged 34.5 points in the Blazers two earlier games against Denver this season and the Trail Blazers missed him in the fourth quarter when it was tougher to close this one out than they had expected when they surged to a 79-61 lead in the third. Randy Foye led Denver with 17 points. Denver again was without Ty Lawson, who leads the Nuggets with averages of 18 points and 8.8 assists. Hes missed seven straight games with a broken rib. Shaw also made a big change with his big man, starting 7-foot-1 Timofey Mozgov at centre in place of Hickson, a natural power forward pressed into duty at centre after JaVale McGee fractured his left tibia five games into the season. Hickson filled in admirably, averaging 11.4 points and 9.2 boards, but he shot just 52 per cent from the free-throw line, and Shaw said that "affected his confidence rolling to the basket aggressively and running the floor because maybe he doesnt want to get fouled." Mozgov, who was averaging 8.6 points and 5.8 rebounds, finished with 14 points and six boards. Hickson scored 16 points. Hickson said he was much more comfortable going back to power forward. "It just felt good to play my natural position," he said. He didnt seem bothered coming off the bench, either. "I dont know how many minutes I played, but I definitely played starters minutes tonight," said Hickson, who played just under 30 minutes. "So, coming off the bench or starting, people always tell me its not who starts, its who finishes and tonight, coach made the call to let me finish and that shows he has a lot of confidence in me still." Evan Fourniers pair of free throws with just over four minutes remaining capped a 15-2 run that pulled Denver to 86-84. Lillard ended the drought with a pair of free throws. After back-to-back buckets by Denvers Kenneth Faried, Lillard hit a finger-roll layup for a 92-88 lead, and the Nuggets never got any closer. "When youre in a situation like that, youve just got to find a way to get it done," Lillard said. NOTES: Blazers F Thomas Robinson played just 14 minutes and had a wrap on his left knee after the game. Stotts said he had no information on the injury. Joe Namath Rams Jersey . The 2014 edition will be the ninth meeting between the Caps and Vikes in a tradition that dates back to 2005. 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Vargas (8-3) allowed four singles and two walks while striking out five, allowing only two runners from a diluted Twins lineup to reach second base. Mike Moustakas and Jarrod Dyson hit RBI singles in the second inning against Kevin Correia (4-10), and that was all Vargas needed. Aaron Donald Womens Jersey . It was a move of some time in the making. “He hasnt thrown well, clearly some guys are being used more than him right now and the only way to get out of this funk is to pitch,” said general manager Alex Anthopoulos.PHOENIX -- Finally, the Arizona Diamondbacks won a series at home. Cody Ross hit his first home run of the year, Eric Chavez went deep for the second consecutive day and the Diamondbacks beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 on Sunday for their first series win at Chase Field all season. After setting a team record for runs Saturday night in an 18-5 rout, the Diamondbacks broke a 3-all tie with Chavezs two-run shot off Dan Haren (5-2) in the fifth inning. "We kind of went in there with a little momentum," manager Kirk Gibson said. "Last nights game was good for us. The thing about last nights game is, unless you play good (today), it doesnt really mean anything." Ross, batting .163 entering the game after coming back from major hip surgery, also doubled for Arizona, which has won two straight over the Dodgers after losing eight of the first nine meetings this season. "I felt something in BP the other day where I was, All right, I can start driving the ball," Ross said. Chris Owings singled three times and stole two bases for the Diamondbacks. The rookie is 9 for 11 against Haren. Hanley Ramirez and Adrian Gonzalez homered for the Dodgers, who have lost three of four. "Obviously, you dont want to keep losing series. If you lose series you are not going to go anywhere," Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly said. "I am really worried about day to day. Till we can grind out wins, we are in trouble." Josh Collmenter (2-2) went 5 1-3 innings to get the win. Addison Reed threw a scoreless ninth for his 12th save. Collmenter was lifted after 84 pitches, allowing two runs and four hits. "If you can beat division rivals at home, thats big," Collmenter said. "Especially the way weve been able to play halfway decent on the road, if we can match that at home I think we can get our record where we want it to be." Haren gave up five runs, a season-high four earned, and 10 hits in six innings. "The last three games have been a strugglle for me," he said.dddddddddddd. "Prior to that I was fine. I have to look and see what I was doing earlier in the year." Owings led off the fifth with a single. With two outs and a 3-2 count, Chavez -- who entered in the fourth after Martin Prado left with blurred vision in his left eye -- hit an opposite-field homer to left. That gave Chavez home runs in consecutive at-bats. He also had a pinch-hit shot Saturday. After first baseman Paul Goldschmidt dropped a relay throw for what would have been an inning-ending double play, the Dodgers loaded the bases with two outs against Brad Ziegler in the eighth. But second baseman Cliff Pennington caught Matt Kemps liner to end the inning. Ramirezs two-out homer in the first gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Arizona tied it with an unearned run in the second. Ross doubled and scored when Ramirez threw wildly to first while trying to turn what would have been an inning-ending double play. In the third, Ramirez walked and Gonzalez homered to give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead. The Diamondbacks cut it to 3-2 when Gerardo Parra led off the bottom half with a single, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Owings single. Ross first home run of the season tied it at 3 in the fourth. Even with the victory, the Diamondbacks are 6-16 at Chase Field this season. NOTES: Randy Johnson threw out the ceremonial first pitch to commemorate his perfect game 10 years ago. ... Dodgers OF Yasiel Puig went 0 for 3 and was hit by a pitch, ending his 16-game hitting streak. ... Diamondbacks 2B Aaron Hill sat out his second straight game with a sore right shoulder. ... Both teams have Monday off. The Dodgers open a series Tuesday night against the Mets in New York, with Josh Beckett (1-1, 2.38 ERA) pitching for Los Angeles. Rafael Montero (0-1) makes his second major league start for the Mets. Arizona visits St. Louis on Tuesday. Bronson Arroyo (4-2, 4.15 ERA) starts for the Diamondbacks against Adam Wainwright (6-2, 2.11). ' ' '