(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Blazers didn’t have starting Center Jusuf Nurkic in the lineup tonight due to “Injury management, right knee.” Hes expected to be in the lineup against the Heat.
““It’s precautionary,” Portland coach Terry Stotts said. “The last time he played a back-to-back he played 20 minutes and then 16 minutes and that’s when he had a little bit of swelling.””
The Portland Trail Blazers struggled out of the gate at the beginning of the game. But, once they took the lead they never let go. They were down 14-11 and ultimately went on a run to win the quarter 33-23. Portland win 6 for 10 from beyond the arc, which even for a three-point shooting team. That’s quite impressive. Damian Lillard finished the quarter with 12 points, and Enes Kanter almost had a double-double in the quarter. He finished with 7 points and 10 rebounds.
The Detroit Pistons had brought it back to a one-point game twice in the second quarter both times being within 5 minutes until the Blazers took a 12- 4 run into half time. They led 59-50. Damian Lillard only scored two points in the quarter, 14 at half. Enes Kanter reached his double-double. At this point, he had 13 points and 16 rebounds.
In the Second half the Blazers took off. They outscored the Pistons 36-26 in the third quarter where Damian Lillard hit the 20 point plateau for the 45th time this season. He also had 9 assists. Kanter had continued his dominance in this game though as he went over 20 rebounds for just the fourth time this season. He finished the quarter with 15 points and 21 rebounds.
Then came the fourth quarter when Enes Kanter when all out for a franchise-record 30 rebounds. Showing how much of a monster he can be on the boards. And for the One billionth time in Blazers history (okay, maybe not that many times but) Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum both hit 25+. Lillard finished with 27 points and 10 assists, and CJ McCollum finished with 26 points. The newest Blazer Rondae Hollis-Jefferson played seven minutes, he went 0-1 with 1 point, 1 assist, and 4 fouls. The Blazers will need him to reduce the fouls in the hopes of reducing in the hopes of using him for defensive purposes. But, tonight on the defensive side of things Blazer fans had quite the show from Robert Covington (2 steals and 1 block) , Carmelo Anthony (1 steal and 1 block), Norman Powell (2 blocks), Derrick Jones Jr. (1 steal and 1 block) and Kanter (1 steal and 2 blocks).
“Enes is such a great guy you could see the bench’s reaction and how happy the team was for him,” Portland coach Terry Stotts said.
Portland won the game 118-103. Snapping a two game losing streak.
Th Blazers are currently 6th in the loaded Western Conference. The sit 1.5 games back of the Los Angeles Lakers, who beat the Nets 126-101.
Tomorrow will we have a live game updates for those Blazers or Heat fans that aren’t able to watch the game. This will be brought to you by Dacota Haynes.
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Northwest Sports Desk 