Trail Blazers beat the Hawks, 110-89

Seven Trail Blazers score in double figures as Portland exacts a measure of revenge against the team that beat them last Saturday.

The Portland Trail Blazers were looking to do a couple of things in their Friday night tilt against the Atlanta Hawks:

• Get a little revenge on the Hawks, who beat Portland 104-89 last Saturday in Atlanta. It was one of the Trail Blazers’ worst defeats of the season. And let’s face it, this season offers several contenders for “worst defeats.”
• Win the first home game of 2018. The Trail Blazers have been pretty awful at the Moda Center. Entering the game, they were just 8-10 at home this season.

Well, the Trail Blazers were two-for-two on those little goals, beating Atlanta 110-89. And Damian Lillard, who was listed as probable with cramping in his right calf, played 29 minutes. He finished with 14 points and six assists.

The Blazers finish the game shooting 53.8 percent from the field, including 43.3 percent from three. And they hold the Hawks to 36.1 percent shooting.

So, let’s look at a few highlights, odds-and-ends and some general thoughts on the Trail Blazers’ victory.

First Quarter

Blazers win the tip and Lillard starts the scoring with a 10-foot jump shot.

And then Jusuf Nurkic gets dunked on immediately by Miles Plumlee.

Off we go!

Lillard hits his second shot, a three-pointer. Blazers offense looks good. Shots are falling.

Hawks playing with fire in their bellies. They clearly think they can win this game.

Blazers open a 26-18 lead with just over two minutes left in the first.

Highlights: Al-Farouq Aminu does his best Dr. J impression, makes a sweet swooping layup in the lane. And Zach Collins with a rebound and assist to CJ McCollum for a three.

And so, after one quarter, it’s Trail Blazers 30, Hawks 22.

Lillard and McCollum both have seven points. Nurkic has four. Hawks shooting a woeful 33 percent.

Second Quarter

Hawks start the second quarter trying to take a charge from everybody, but not getting any calls. Blazers extend their lead, 38-26.

But the Hawks score seven straight to cut the lead to seven, 38-31, with 8:22 left to go.

Nurkic is playing like he’s half asleep, and Hawks pull within one, 47-46. Hawks are very active on defense, throwing multiple wrenches into the Trail Blazers’ offensive gears.

A short while later, a McCollum three-pointer gives the Trail Blazers a 52-46 lead.

So, after 24 minutes, it’s the Trail Blazers 52, Hawks 46.

Pretty lackluster finish to the half for the Trail Blazers.

McCollum looks great, though. He got 16 points and he’s made four three-pointers.

Third Quarter

Nurkic with a steal on the Hawks’ first possession. Leads to a McCollum three.

A few minutes later, Nurkic makes a nice pass to Aminu who finishes with a dunk. Is Nurkic awake now?

After a Lillard drive and layup, Hawks call a timeout. Blazers up 66-57 with 7:48 left.

Dame hits a three right out of the timeout.

Yes, Nurkic is awake – active without the ball and fighting for rebounds.

Blazers go on a 10-0 scoring run to go up 74-57.

With just over three minutes left, Blazers are up by 14 points, 76-62. Portland is shooting a solid 54.5 percent. Atlanta shooting just 38.7 percent.

Damian turns the ball over, gets it right back and then lasers a pass to Ed Davis, who dunks the ball.

This is followed by a nice drive by Aminu, switching to his left hand as he scores in the lane.

Good quarter for the Trail Blazers. They extend their lead by eight points.

After three: Trail Blazers 82, Hawks 68.

Fourth Quarter

The Trail Blazers open up the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run. Lead is now 91-68.

Benches are emptied.

Noah Vonleh into the game at 7:16.

Jake Layman into the game at 6:49.

The game ends with Layman, Shabazz Napier, Collins, Pat Connaughton and Vonleh on the floor.

Atlanta even lets Luke Babbitt play!

Collins hits a three, extending the lead to 100-75.

Trail Blazers with 30 assists, a season high.

Portland is sloppy with the ball; they finish the game with 18 turnovers.

Trail Blazers win 110-89. Hooray!

Every player contributed to this victory. And seven Trail Blazers finished with double figures in scoring: McCollum (20), Lillard and Aminu (both with 14), Ed Davis (12), Nurkic and Connaughton (11) and Evan Turner (10).

Next: Trail Blazers have a make-or-break week ahead of them.

Three Takeaways

Lillard’s legs: Lillard went back and forth to the locker room several times. He was stretching that cramping calf muscle, according to Trail Blazers courtside reporter, Brooke Olzendam.

Nurkic plays … OK (11 points, nine rebounds). Does it seem like Nurkic is less of a deterrent at the rim than he should be? (He finished the game with zero blocks.) He also seemed half asleep for large stretches of the game. The most spark he showed in the first half was during a mini war of words with Taurean Prince. It will be nice to see Nurk play a full game again, with effort from start to finish.

A tough road ahead. The Trail Blazers’ schedule gets decidedly more difficult over the next week. Portland plays San Antonio at home on Sunday. Then they go on the road for four straight games against Oklahoma City, Houston, New Orleans and Minnesota. The week ahead will give us a good idea of where the Blazers truly stack up in the crowded Western Conference.