The Sports Xchange
Nov 16, 2017
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Shabazz Napier combined for 69 points as the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Orlando Magic 99-94 on Wednesday night at Moda Center.
Lillard scored 26 points, McCollum 24 and Napier a season-high 19 for the Trail Blazers (8-6). Lillard also had a season-high 11 rebounds and seven assists. Napier came off the bench to go 5 of 5 from 3-point range.
Evan Fournier led Orlando (8-7) with 22 points.
McCollum scored 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting and Napier came off the bench for 11 points -- going 3 of 3 on 3-point attempts -- to spring Portland to a 51-47 halftime advantage.
The Blazers increased the margin to 66-55 midway through the third quarter, but the Magic battled back within 72-69 late in the quarter. Portland took a 75-71 lead into the fourth quarter.
Fournier's 3-pointer pushed Orlando in front 81-80 with 6:47 to play. Jusuf Nurkic's jump hook gave the Blazers the lead back at 82-81. The teams exchanged baskets, then McCollum drained a 3 and Lillard hit two free throws for an 89-83 advantage.
Elfrid Payton sank a 3-pointer to cut the difference to 89-86 with 2:58 left. Napier and McCollum answered with back-to-back 3s to make it 95-86 with 1:43 remaining.
The Magic never got closer than five the rest of the way.
Orlando jumped to a 13-3 lead in the game's first three minutes.
The Magic, sinking nine of their first 11 shots from the field, were in front 19-10 midway through the first quarter. Orlando took a 33-24 advantage into the second quarter.
The Magic's edge was 47-34 midway through the second quarter when the Trail Blazers finished the half on a 17-0 run to take a four-point lead into the break.
NOTES: The Magic went 1-3 on their four-game road trip. Orlando returns home for games against Utah and Indiana, then goes back on the road for another four-game swing. "Our toughest stretch of schedule this season," Orlando coach Frank Vogel said. ... The Trail Blazers rank among the NBA's top teams in many statistical categories, including rebound percentage (first, .539), free-throw percentage (second, .831), offensive rebounds per game (second, 11.46), 3-point percentage (sixth, .382), blocked shots (5.62, sixth), opponents' scoring (fourth, 99.0), opponents’ field-goal percentage (third, .433), defensive rating (third, 99.2) and opponents' 3-point percentage (third, .321). Orlando is among the best in 3-point percentage (second, .399), assists (third, 26.31) and opponents' 3-point percentage (second, .317).