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Recap: CJ McCollum’s 40 Not Enough in Ugly Affair

Portland played a familiar tune near Graceland in a brutal 92-83 loss to the Grizzlies.

NBA: Portland Trail Blazers at Memphis Grizzlies Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

This is a story that Portland Trail Blazers fans have read too many times.

Portland took a 12-point lead in the first quarter, only to watch the bench for the Memphis Grizzlies wrench it away in a 92-83 loss in Memphis Wednesday night.

CJ McCollum had 40 points on 16-of-27 shooting, but Damian Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic were off all night long. Lillard shot just 4-of-18, and Nurkic was 1-of-15. Mike Conley had 23 points for the Grizzlies.

Here are tonight’s takeaways:

  • Same Old Song and Dance My Friend: Portland got an early 12 point advantage, but watched their bench get outscored 35-15. Memphis took a 17-2 run in the second quarter, and that was all she wrote.
  • Nightmare Night For Nurkic: Jusuf was off all night long. Coach Terry Stotts went with Meyers Leonard, and even Caleb Swanigan to find fight inside, but nothing seemed to work.
  • Fined For Streaking: Portland has now won every game it has entered the fourth quarter as a leader, and lost every game it has entered trailing. Portland cut the lead to one halfway through the fourth quarter, but Mike Conley rallied his squad and finished the Blazers.

What’s Next:

Portland gets a night off before hosting the Eastern Conference leading Toronto Raptors.