Erving Scores 29 Points to Lead 76ers Over Trail Blazers at Portland, 125-119

Julius Erving, playing his final NBA game in Portland, scored 29 points Sunday night, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 125-119 victory over the Trail Blazers.

Tim McCormick and Maurice Cheeks triggered a second-half surge that lifted the 76ers to their third straight victory and handed Portland its fifth loss in six games.

McCormick scored 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter. Cheeks scored 24 points and had 10 assists.

Kiki Vandeweghe scored 31 points for Portland, but only 7 in the second half. Clyde Drexler scored 22, while Terry Porter and Jerome Kersey each scored 21.

The Blazers had 6-foot-7 Kenny Carr playing center for much of the game because Sam Bowie is out for the season with a broken leg and Bowie’s replacement, Steve Johnson, was in foul trouble.

Philadelphia took the lead for good at 59-57 with 33 seconds to go in the first half on an inside basket by Erving, who has announced his retirement at the end of the season.

The 76ers, who played without Charles Barkley and Jeff Ruland because of injuries, used a 17-8 spurt to build an 84-73 advantage on Erving’s two free throws with 4:10 to go in the third quarter.