NBA Game Summary - Brooklyn at Portland
Portland, OR (SportsNetwork.com) - Damian Lillard poured in 28 points with 10 assists to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 97-87 win over the Brooklyn Nets.
Chris Kaman had 12 points off the bench, while Wesley Matthews and Robin Lopez each contributed 10 for Portland, which has won four straight.
Brook Lopez paced the Nets with 21 points, Joe Johnson supplied 19 and Deron Williams also netted 19 points with six assists for the Nets, who have lost three straight. Kevin Garnett went for 12 points and 12 rebounds in the setback.
"I came in here after the game and told the guys it's a long season, the league is very difficult and we'll be playing good teams every night," Garnett said.
The Nets franchise fell to 6-34 all-time in Portland.
The Blazers, who were playing without LaMarcus Aldridge (illness) and Nicolas Batum (knee), entered the fourth with an 80-66 lead after Kaman's 3-point play closed the third-quarter scoring.
"It's not easy," Lillard said to play without Aldridge and Batum. "Especially two of our starters, our best player, it makes everything tougher. But guys are ready for the challenge."
Portland then took its foot off the gas in the final frame as Brooklyn slowly crept its way back into the contest. Lillard made a pair of free throws to make it a 13-point game with 8:02 left, but Johnson hit a jumper nearly two minutes later to start a 9-2 Nets' run that cut the deficit to 88-82 with 3 1/2 minutes to play.
Lillard followed by missing a jumper, but Meyers Leonard corralled the miss for the Blazers and Matthews nailed a 3-pointer later in the possession to quell the run. Williams then knocked a pair of free throws to trim the margin to 91-84, but the Nets' offensive deficiency down the stretch prevented them to complete the comeback.
A pair of free throws by Jerome Jordan were the only points Brooklyn manufactured over the final four minutes of the first quarter, with Portland ending the frame on an 11-2 run for a 24-15 lead.
The Blazers maintained their double-digit lead in the second, taking a 50-39 margin into the locker room at the half.