Lakers 113, Trail Blazers 106: Kobe Bryant scored a season-high 47 points and visiting Los Angeles edged Portland to keep its playoff hopes alive.

Pau Gasol had 23 points and nine assists while Dwight Howard added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who maintained their hold on the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with three games to play. Los Angeles moved one game ahead of Utah, which owns the tiebreaker with the Lakers.

Damian Lillard led Portland with a career-high 38 points along with nine assists, and LaMarcus Aldridge added 17 points and 16 boards. The Trail Blazers were within 108-104 with 1:15 left, but Steve Blake grabbed two critical offensive rebounds in the final minute to seal the Lakers’ victory.

Bryant set a Rose Garden record for points by an opponent while playing all 48 minutes and making 14-of-27 shots from the field - and all 18 from the foul line. He scored 40-plus points for the eighth time this season and led the Lakers to their first sweep of a back-to-back set this season.

Portland, which started four rookies for the first time in franchise history because of injuries, led 90-88 after closing the third quarter on a 12-4 run. Lillard was 12-of-25 shooting and made all nine of his free throws.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Portland F Victor Claver did not return after leaving the game in the second half with a sprained left ankle. … Lakers PG Steve Nash missed his fifth straight game with hip and hamstring soreness. … Portland scored a season-high 69 points in the first half and led by eight at the break.