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It’s the first time the 2 sides have met because the Lakers knocked out Portland within the opening spherical of the 2020 playoffs, and the Path Blazers sought revenge.
Damian Lillard had his second consecutive 30+ level recreation, whereas CJ McCollum’s tally of 20 is his lowest of the season up to now — his 11 assists made up for that although. Gary Trent Jr. additionally starred, the 21-year-old coming off the bench to attain 28 factors.
Latest Lakers acquisition Dennis Schröder put in a powerful 24-point efficiency, however the Blazers had been too sturdy.
The groups had been comparatively evenly matched statistically, aside from 3-point makes an attempt. These riskier performs paid off for the Blazers, who scored 16 of their 46 makes an attempt, to the Lakers 10 of 27.
Trent Jr. had explicit success from past the arc, scoring seven of his 11 makes an attempt. Lillard praised Trent Jr. for his efficiency afterwards.
“(Trent Jr.) was on hearth. I feel everyone noticed only a small pattern of what he can do earlier than the season was placed on pause. Then after we bought to the [NBA coronavirus secure] bubble, I feel everyone noticed his potential to defend and have a optimistic affect on the sport offensively.
“He is a shot-maker, he has tremendous, tremendous, tremendous confidence in himself. I feel tonight, with out his effort, we do not win this recreation.”
Accidents
The Memphis Grizzlies win over the Brooklyn Nets yesterday got here at a value: star participant and reigning Rookie of the 12 months Ja Morant hurting his left ankle.
Morant got here into the sport because the NBA’s third greatest scorer this season, and tenth in assists. With out his contributions, the Grizzlies might have suffered greater losses of their opening video games.
His 44 factors in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs within the season opener was a career-high for him, and can be the second greatest solo efficiency in Grizzlies franchise historical past. He’s the second-youngest Memphis participant ever to attain a 40-point recreation, and the second-youngest participant in NBA historical past — after Shaquille O’Neal — to debut a season with a 40-point recreation. For the second total choose within the 2019 NBA Draft, it looks like two is Morant’s fortunate quantity.
He began the sport in attribute energetic and fluent play, however landed awkwardly on his ankle on the again finish of the second quarter blocking a Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot shot.
Morant hopped about in ache, earlier than leaving the court docket within the wheelchair. He returned however solely to the bench, carrying a protecting boot.
The Grizzlies crew had been capable of come collectively throughout Morant’s absence to clinch an time beyond regulation victory in opposition to a Nets crew that was with out stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.
Forwards Kyle Anderson and Dillon Brooks stood as much as cowl for the lack of Morant, scoring 28 and 24 respectively.
He additionally described his crew’s efficiency as an “unbelievable show of resiliency by our group.”
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