In sole possession of third place by a whisker, the Portland Trail Blazers moseyed on down to Los Angeles to face the Lakers.
With the Blazers on a six-game streak and the Lakers winners of five in a row, something had to give. Portland was hoping to keep their season-high streak alive, mindful of their playoff positioning in a ruthless Western Conference.
Maurice Harkless warmed up with the team, but was still out with a sore patellar tendon. The Blazers tapped Evan Turner to start, while the Lakers were without Brandon Ingram.
First Half
The Blazers came out cold. They missed three three-pointers early as the Lakers popped out to a 4-0 lead before Evan Turner drew an and-1, settling the road team. Halfway through the first, the Blazers had a modest 11-6 lead as neither club seemed to be in rhythm.
Eyeing perhaps his only height advantage matchup of his season, the 6’1” Shabazz Napier prodded the 5’9” Isaiah Thomas and drew free throws to put the Blazers up 25-17 late in the first. Much to the chagrin of Blazers fans, the Lakers drew within 27-24 heading into the second.
The best for Portland felt yet to come.
A microburst from Damian Lillard made it 34-24 with 11 left in the half, giving him 10 points. Then Shabazz Napier and Ed Davis came through with a few baskets apiece. As the Blazers’ defense held steady, Zach Collins played comfortable and Connaughton nailed a triple to put the Blazers up 14 with seven to go, forcing a Luke Walton timeout.
Oh, and Shabazz did this:
As with February Portland snow, it didn’t last. Lonzo Ball drew the Lakers to within 40-46, forcing a Terry Stotts timeout.
The Lakers closed to within one, but a pair of Lillard threes kept the Blazers afloat enough to take a 58-55 lead into the half.
Second Half
As Al-Farouq Aminu went to the bench with four fouls, Zach Collins came in early in the third and the lead evaporated. Portland found themselves down 58-61 with nine minutes left and now using Meyers Leonard amidst the foul trouble. (The Blazers were tagged with 5 fouls just nine minutes into the second half. The Lakers had none.)
As Portland settled into a growing deficit, the grind of the NBA season felt heavy. So many games, but with so many games to go in a packed Western Conference. The Lakers had no reason to tank, as they don’t have their own first round pick this year (but do have one from Cleveland).
It wasn’t looking good:
The Blazers are 1-for-10 from the field with four points in the third quarter.
— Joe Freeman (@BlazerFreeman) March 6, 2018
With 5:34 left, the Lakers lead 68-62.
Before you could say “Lavar Ball,” Portland found themselves in a very real double-digit-DEFICIT reality.
With Jusuf Nurkic finally allowed to come back into the game, the Blazers buckled the shields a bit and trailed 73-80 heading into the fourth.
…and if the best was yet to come, it had to hurry.
Down the stretch
Portland got it down to five early in the final quarter with Nurkic looking energized, then within four with nine to go… but the deficit dipped to 10 with eight remaining.
Needing critical stops and buckets, the Blazers’ found precious few of either. Their inability to finish at the rim and missed free throws stinging, Portland found themselves running out of time quickly.
More from Rip City Project
- Blazers News: Portland signs FIBA WC standout center
- Blazers News: Portland re-signing failed lottery pick
- 8 Do-overs the Portland Trail Blazers Wish They Had During Last Decade
- Portland Trail Blazers NBA 2K24 team, player ratings
- Woj: Blazers, Lillard ‘fully prepared’ for star to be with team in training camp
They got a few stops… and Dame hit a long three! AND THEN ANOTHER!! With 3:36 left, the Blazers tied the game!
Then. Dame. Hit. TWO MORE THREES.
With the Blazers up 103-99, Kyle Kuzma was fouled and brought the Lakers to within three… but Lonzo Ball hit a three to tie the game.
Dame got fouled, but missed his third free throw to give Portland a scant one-point lead.
The Blazers held court, Nurkic hit two clutch free throws, another stop, an offensive rebound…, and CJ McCollum went to the line up three with eight seconds to go… CJ missed the first… and the second.
Lakers ball down three, eight seconds left.
The Blazers needed one stop.
They fouled…on a dead ball. Thomas missed the free throw! The Lakers inbounded again, Thomas went up, NAPIER SWIPED IT AND THE BLAZERS WIN THE GAME, 108-103!!
Next: Current win streak has the Blazers finally receiving recognition
Although a painful game to watch, Damian Lillard once again played hero. His back-to-back-to-back-to-back three pointers gave Portland win No. 7 in a row and maintained the team’s third place ranking.
The Blazers come home to face the New York Knicks in search of an eighth straight win. Look for Lillard to continue adding to his MVP résumé.