Portland Trail Blazers: 3 takeaways from their triumph over the Bucks

Portland Trail Blazers CJ McCollum (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
Portland Trail Blazers CJ McCollum (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers CJ McCollum (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Portland Trail Blazers get their second win in a row against the Milwaukee Bucks, improving to 8-3 for the year. Here are three takeaways from the contest.

The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 118-103, improving to 8-3 on the year. The Bucks came into the contest 8-1 and second in the East, with a budding superstar in Giannis Antetokounmpo who averages 26.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game this season

Throughout the game, the teams traded blows, but Portland never let Milwaukee gain an edge. The Blazers did well to contain Giannis by forcing him into taking midrange shots while the offense ran through Evan Turner and even Jake Layman for a bit before CJ McCollum ultimately took over the game.

Giannis dropped in 23 with nine rebounds and six assists; Middleton had 22 with eight and six. But it was no match for Portland.

The win keeps the Blazers at third for the West behind the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors. By defeating one of the East’s most emergent teams in a pretty impressive way, the Blazers are looking more and more for real.

Here are three takeaways following the Blazers win over the Bucks.