PORTLAND, Ore. — Patty Mills has been the first Trail Blazer to leap to his feet and cheer from the bench when a teammate scores all this season, often waving his towel over his head.

Now the cheers from the bench are for him.

On Tuesday night, the 6-foot Australian point guard sparked the team to a 106-99 victory over the Phoenix Suns. It was Portland's second win after a string of six losses that were marked by a lack of energy.

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Mills finished with nine points and a career-high seven assists. But it was an intangible zeal that earned him an ovation from the Rose Garden crowd — which included his dad, Benny, who was visiting the United States for the holidays.

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