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The Blazers snap a three-game losing streak with an easy, minus the last five minutes of the fourth, win at home against the Phoenix Suns. We’ll still take it.
The Blazers were led by Damian Lillard with 31 points and 7 assists. CJ McCollum contributed 27 points. The suns were led by Devin Booker with 43 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds.
Before the game, Damian Lillard gives a speech in tribute of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Damian Lillard shares a very heartfelt message to pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King. pic.twitter.com/t2btpnX4im
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) January 17, 2018
Lethal Weapons
The Blazers just have more weapons, plain and simple, than the Phoenix Suns. The Blazers’ fearsome foursome(?) of Lillard, CJ McCollum, Evan Turner, and Shabazz Napier were just too much for the Phoenix Suns. Devin Booker had himself a ballgame and kept the game close for nearly a half, and then made things interesting late in the fourth. But, he wasn’t enough for the Suns in the end.
Strong Starts
The Blazers opened the game shooting 8-for8 from the field and began the second half in the midst of a 14-0 run. The latter helped open up a 23-point lead for the Blazers. From there, the Suns had officially tuned out from playing any defense and were counting lottery balls with each Blazers’ bucket, they just didn’t tell Booker to stop playing.
Jusuf Nurkic Goes on a Long Timeout
Meyers Leonard came off the bench in the second quarter when Jusuf Nurkic would normally come back on the court. Nurkic then started the third quarter and all looked well again. What happened? Apparently, Nurkic may have been temporarily benched for giving zero you-know-what’s about playing the Suns. It was a strong statement by Terry Stotts to his entire team that has had issues playing down to an opponent.
Home Sweet Home, Again
It seems like it’s been forever since the Blazers were able to enjoy a blowout win at home. However, the Blazers couldn’t let good things be and the Suns closed the gap to just 10 with under six minutes in the fourth. An Al-Farouq Aminu three late in the period sealed the game, but the Blazers proved we still can’t have nice things, yet.
Go ahead and get busy, ET #ripcity https://t.co/Q7dncn6uxC pic.twitter.com/zpB93hRd6D
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) January 17, 2018
Shabazz cradling the baby #ripcity https://t.co/Q7dncn6uxC pic.twitter.com/UCfeQtIISD
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) January 17, 2018
Seriously, @ShabazzNapier...
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 17, 2018
HOW DO YOU DO IT?!? pic.twitter.com/LBuzDwNNZI
CJ has officially blown the doors off this one... #ripcity https://t.co/Q7dncn6uxC pic.twitter.com/wwdY3RgTHc
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) January 17, 2018
.@KevinCalabro sings a happy birthday message while calling a Nurkic dunk #ripcity pic.twitter.com/KIpwFFSRy2
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) January 17, 2018
Per new NBA rules, we have to have at least one scuffle during a game.
Don't tell Maurice Harkless to "chill out" #ripcity https://t.co/Q7dncn6uxC pic.twitter.com/WinrFk2xRd
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) January 17, 2018
The Blazers take on the Indiana Pacers at the Moda Center on Thursday night. Tip-off is at 7pm. Stay tuned to Blazer’s Edge for a full analysis of this game.