LOS ANGELES -- Portlands enormous fourth-quarter lead dwindled to a single point before the Trail Blazers finally figured out how hold off the Los Angeles Lakers patchwork lineup. Raul Mondesi Jersey . Wesley Matthews thinks the harrowing experience will be good for the Blazers as they try to cement their spot among the NBAs elite. LaMarcus Aldridge had 27 points and nine rebounds, and Portland blew most of a 20-point lead before holding on to beat the Lakers 114-108 Sunday night. Damian Lillard had 26 points and nine assists, and Matthews scored 17 points for the Blazers, whose 11-game winning streak ended four days earlier in Phoenix. The Blazers tied their franchise record with 13 victories in November, and they opened December with an unlikely nail-biter, surviving despite blowing big leads in each half. "We shouldnt have had to do that," Matthews said. "Theres still a learning curve for us, but its a good sign if your lesson is you have to learn how to play with a lead. Its better than having to fight back." The Lakers would agree, even though their rally got Staples Center rocking. Xavier Henry scored a career-high 27 points and Jodie Meeks added 20 for Los Angeles, which had won five of six to climb above .500 despite injury woes. Portland led 94-74 entering the fourth, but promptly failed to score for nearly six minutes as the Lakers mounted a 24-5 run with a lineup featuring no point guard and energetic backup centre Robert Sacre, who had career highs of 12 points and seven rebounds. "We have guys down right now, but we cant do anything about that," said Henry, who surpassed his previous career high set earlier this season. "The guys we do have can still give any team a run for its money." Portland returned from its holiday break with its first road victory over the Lakers in seven tries since April 11, 2010, but only after a little drama. The Blazers blew a 17-point lead in the first half, but thought they had taken control with a 41-point third quarter -- their biggest period of the season. Los Angeles cut Portlands lead to 99-98 on Shawne Williams tip-in with 3:44 to play, but Lillard hit a 3-pointer with 2:54 left, and Matthews added another with 1:20 to play. Los Angeles kept it close, but the Blazers hit five of their six free throws in the final 23 seconds. "We need to stay consistent," Lillard said. "When things are going well, we tend to ease up instead of tightening up and putting teams away. Once teams get fired up and get back in the game, our intensity rises again. We have to find a way to keep it at that high level." The Lakers were left with only nine or 10 healthy players -- and one point guard -- when Jordan Farmar limped to the locker room in the first quarter, straining his left hamstring shortly after checking in to the game. Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash still havent returned to uniform, and centre Chris Kaman -- who recently recovered from a back injury -- dressed but didnt play. Pau Gasol, who missed Saturdays practice to deal with nagging injury issues, missed nine of his 10 shots in the first half before finishing with six points on 3-of-15 shooting. He plans to have an MRI on his sore ankle Monday. But the Lakers league-leading bench had another big game led by Henry, Sacre and Nick Young, who scored 17 points. "Thats what this team is all about -- you never know whos going to come out and produce," Sacre said. "Thats the whole essence of this team. Were all about one another, and we want each other to succeed." The Lakers hoped to play aggressively with the next four days off to rest, but instead got off to a horrific start. Portland took an 11-0 lead in the first four minutes as Los Angeles missed its first eight shots, stretching the margin to 21-4 before many fans had settled in their seats. Lakers coach Mike DAntoni yanked four of his starters, and they gradually got back in it with a tying 19-6 run capped by Meeks 3-pointer midway through the second quarter. Lillard scored 11 points in the third quarter as Portland made 17 of its 24 shots while taking command. Los Angeles then scored 10 straight points to open the fourth, and the Blazers didnt get a field goal until 5:31 remained. NOTES: Lillard converted a four-point play early in the second quarter, and Henry also did it midway through the fourth quarter. ... DAntoni said Nash will be at practice on Tuesday after a trip to Vancouver for further rehab on his nerve root irritation. Theres no timetable for the return of the two-time MVP point guard -- or Bryant, who also will be in practice this week. DAntoni declined to speculate whether Bryant could make his season debut when the Lakers visit Sacramento on Friday. ... Williams and Johnson both fouled out in the fourth quarter for Los Angeles. Joe Torre Yankees Jersey . Future Hall of Famer Ricky Ray is in his prime and back for a third season in double blue. The 34-year old was magnificent in 2013, throwing for just under 2,900 yards despite missing eight games, tossing an impressive 21 touchdowns against just two interceptions, completing 66 per cent of his passes in the process. James Paxton Jersey . On Wednesday, Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas hit back. In a passionate defence of himself and the London clubs medical staff, the Portuguese coach rebuked the "incompetent people" who have attacked Tottenham for allowing Lloris to continue playing after being briefly knocked unconscious against Everton on Sunday. https://www.cheapyankees.com/2941g-aaron-judge-jersey-yankees.html . According to TSNs Farhan Lalji, Richardson is heading to Toronto for a physical and is expected to sign with the Argonauts.PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Sidney Crosby has spent months politely rehashing the Pittsburgh Penguins nightmarish spring, a stretch that included a meltdown against the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference semifinals and a sizable front office overhaul that shook one of the NHLs most stable organizations.The leagues reigning MVP is happy to turn the page.Im tired of talking about last year, Crosby said. Its nice to move on, get a fresh start here for everybody. Weve got a lot of new faces, we still have a lot to improve on and get better.The Penguins should get an idea of how far they have to go starting Thursday when they host Anaheim in the season opener. Pittsburgh has been one of the leagues best teams out of the gate over the last five years, going 44-24 during the opening month since 2009.Matching that October success may be difficult this time around. A schedule that includes games against the Ducks and defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles wont help. Neither will expected the growing pains associated with trying to adjust to first-year coach Mike Johnstons style.General manager Jim Rutherford stressed during the off-season hed be OK with sacrificing a point or two in the fall if it led to success in the playoffs for a franchise more than five years removed from its last championship.While Crosby cautioned its important not to get lulled into the idea that losing will be tolerated, he said there will be missteps along the way as the Penguins try to forge a new identity under Johnston following five-plus seasons in coach Dan Bylsmas high-risk, high-reward attack.If guys have the right work ethic and our focus is there and we do everything to help ourselves and have mistakes that are mistakes just because its early and guys are getting a feel for each other, I think thats a little more acceptable than it would be in a typical year, he said. That being said, I think you can tell pretty quickly why you make those mistakes and if its a lack of effort or not being sharp. Thats totally different.And while Pittsburgh forward Pascaal Dupuis likened learning Johnstons system a€” one that focuses on puck possession rather than the dazzling if dangerous stretch passes favoured by Bylsma a€” to picking up new slang. Tyler Lyons Yankees Jersey. The goal remains the same regardless of who is behind the bench.Every team tries to accomplish the same thing, Crosby said. You try to hold onto the puck. You try to play fast. You try to put pressure on the other team. I dont think that ever changes.Neither does Pittsburghs reliance on its two superstars. Crosby insists hes healthy after dealing with an aching wrist that limited his effectiveness in the playoffs while Evgeni Malkin is expected to play in the opener after missing most of training camp with an undisclosed injury.And while Dupuis, Chris Kunitz, Kris Letang and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury are back too, the rest of the roster looks decidedly different. Its Johnstons job to figure out how best to use newcomers like forwards Patric Hornqvist, Nick Spaling and Blake Comeau. And its the Penguins job to figure out how Johnston works after spending more than half a decade listening to the professional and occasionally excitable Bylsma.I think hes pretty calm, Crosby said. I dont think thats going to change no matter what the score is. Thats his demeanour, thats his way. Id be pretty shocked if you heard his voice all that much.Johnston would prefer his teams play to do most of the talking. Hes been put in an enviable if difficult task of coaxing a roster stuffed with talent a€” particularly at the top a€” toward taking the step thats eluded them since Crosby lifted the Cup in triumph in 2009.He has a six-month regular season to hone the process, though he has no intention of being patient. He was hired to win in April, May and June. Though he will spend all year preaching about the habits and details in our game we know we desperately need come playoff time he has no plans of lowering expectations for October.As far as results go and how were going to play, he said, I expect us to be very sharp right off the hop. ' ' '