Brooklyn Nets pull away down the stretch to beat Portland Trail Blazers: NBA Recap
With the score level on 70 at the end of the third period, the Brooklyn Nets demolished the Portland Trail Blazers in the final period to win 98-85 here at the Barclays Center on Sunday night. With this win, the Nets have won five
games in a row at their new home.
Joe Johnson scored the night high 21 points; Deron Williams posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds while Andray Blatche came off the bench to chip in with 13 points.
Wesley Matthews led the Blazers with team high 20 points, J.J. Hickson had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds while Damian Lillard posted 13 points and dished out 7 assists for the visitors. Portland were outrebounded
34-48 by the Nets on the night.
“To be without our best player and come to Brooklyn and then have a chance down the stretch; it just came to them making shots down the stretch and we didn't." Damian Lillard commented on his teams’ performance in the final period.
The Nets started the game on a high note and a 12-0 run put them up 14-5 early in the period. A Kris Humphries layup pushed their advantage to 18-10 before the Blazers started slashing the deficit and Matthews fired a three pointer
to put them within three, 17-20, of the Nets. They kept on chasing and tied the score on 23 after a Matthews’s jumper.
Portland continued their surge and were leading 27-25 by the end of the period. They kept up the good work in the second period and a Nicolas Batum dunk shot had them up 36-29 early in the quarter. The Nets scored the next 6 points
to make it a one point game on 35-36. The score was tied on 40 at one stage before the Blazers scored some quick buckets that had them leading 50-46 by the end of the period.
The Nets seemed a far improved side in the second half and they slashed the deficit immediately, making it 55-54 early. From that moment onwards, the score was tied numerous times and lead kept switching hands. The Blazers were
up 68-63 before the Nets finished the period strongly to tie the score on 70 as they headed into the final period.
It was all Nets in the final period as they raced to 81-74. Their advantage was extended to 92-80 when Deron Williams nailed a three pointer and from there on it was all easy.
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