Suns scorch Blazers, take 2-1 lead

Jason Richardson scored a playoff career-high 42 points and the visiting Phoenix Suns dominated from the start in a 108-89 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night that gave them a 2-1 lead in their first-round series.

The Suns led by as many as 31 points before Portland mounted a rally in the fourth quarter, closing within 91-80 after Rudy Fernandez hit three consecutive 3-pointers.

Game 4 of the Western Conference quarterfinal series is Saturday at Portland.

Thunder 101, Lakers 96: Kevin Durant had 29 points and 19 rebounds, and snapped out of a shooting funk just in time to lead the decisive run in the first playoff game played in Oklahoma City, lifting the Thunder past visiting Los Angeles.

The Thunder, who trail 2-1 in the quarterfinal series, host Game 4 on Saturday.

Bulls 108, Cavaliers 106: Derrick Rose scored 31 points, Kirk Hinrich added 27 and host Chicago beat top-seeded Cleveland in Game 3 of their first-round series after watching a 21-point lead dwindle to one.

The Bulls will try to tie the best-of-seven series at home Sunday.