The Sports Xchange
Nov 11, 2017
PORTLAND, Ore. -- D'Angelo Russell totaled 21 points and nine assists as the shorthanded Brooklyn Nets beat the Portland Trail Blazers 101-97 Friday night.
Russell five players in double figures for the Nets, who used a 31-18 third quarter to improve to 2-2 on a five-game road trip.
DeMarre Carroll added 16 points, former Trail Blazers Allen Crabbe added 12 and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson contributed 11.
Jusuf Nurkic led the Trail Blazers with 21 points, and guard Damian Lillard added 19.
An 18-point third quarter by Portland turned its six-point halftime lead into a 77-70 deficit going into the final 12 minutes, which were close all the way, with the teams trading baskets down the stretch.
Brooklyn had a 96-95 lead when it made a turnover and missed a shot, but Portland committed back-to-back turnovers, giving the Nets the ball with 41.1 seconds remaining.
Russell then made a step-back shot for a 98-95 lead.
A layup by CJ McCollum made the score 98-97 with 33 seconds left.
Russell drove on Blazers forward Ed Davis and drew a foul on his basket. Russell missed his free throw, but the Nets got the rebound and were fouled again with 8.1 seconds to go. Russell made only one of two shots, but that gave Brooklyn a 101-97 lead.
McCollum couldn't get a good look and missed with one second remaining.
The Blazers (6-6) failed to bounce back from a 98-97 loss at home to Memphis on Tuesday.
The Nets, who had lost four in a row to Portland, improved to 5-7 heading to Utah for a Saturday game. It was their first win at Moda Center since March 27, 2013.
NOTES: The Blazers are 61-24 in the all-time series, including 36-7 at home. ... Nets G Allen Crabbe, traded by Portland in the offseason, came into the game averaging 11.1 points (fourth on his team), shooting .375 from the field and .371 on 3-pointers, in 24.8 minutes. He started for the fifth time as Net. In his previous four NBA seasons, all as a Blazer, he averaged 8.3 points in 22.8 minutes, starting 24 times. "Looks like the same Allen," Blazers coach Terry Stotts said, adding that he thinks a big thing for Crabbe will be managing the bigger minutes he might get as a Net. Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson said it will take teamwork and good screens for the 6-foot-6 Crabbe to find more success. "We need everybody working to get him shots and open looks," Atkinson said.