NEW YORK (AP) – Damian Lillard scored 34, Jusuf Nurkic added 29, and the Portland Trail Blazers rallied from a six-point deficit late in the fourth quarter to edge the Brooklyn Nets 127-125 on Friday.
Portland trailed 121-115 with 2:20 left after former Trail Blazers’ guard Allen Crabbe floater. The Trail Blazers then scored the next eight points, capped by Shabbaz Nappier three-point play with 55 seconds left. Brooklyn’s Spencer Dinwiddie then evened it 123 before Nurkic’s three-point play with 27 seconds left put Portland up for good, 126-123.
CJ McCollum chipped in 26 for the Trail Blazers, who found themselves down by 11 in the first quarter in a post-Thanksgiving noon tip.
Brooklyn Nets forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (24) attempts an off balance shot against Portland Trail Blazers forward Noah Vonleh (21) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in New York, Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
Dinwiddie had 23 for the Nets, who have lost three straight games – the previous two to the defending champions, Golden State Warriors, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Brooklyn had six other players score in double-figures, including Rondae-Hollis Jefferson had 17. Sean Kilpatrick added 14 and Joe Harris scored 14.
TIP-INS
Trail Blazers: Reserve forward Al-Farouq Aminu remained out again with a sprained right ankle he suffered during a game Nov. 1. He’s missed his last 10 games.
Nets: DeMarre Carroll, Tyler Zeller and Trevor Booker each had 10 points for the Nets.
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
Portland’s noon start at Brooklyn was the first of two on their regular-season schedule. They’ll tip-off again at noon at Boston on Feb. 4 – the second game of a three-game Eastern Conference road trip.
SNAP OUT OF IT
McCollum made 10 of 19 shots to rebound from Wednesday’s dreadful shooting performance at Philadelphia, in which he went 1 for 14 from the field, scoring five points.
UP NEXT
Trail Blazers: Continue their five-game road trip at Washington on Saturday.
Nets: Visit Memphis on Monday, the first of three games on the road.
Brooklyn Nets center Tyler Zeller (44) attempts an off balance shot against Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (27) defends during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in New York, Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
Brooklyn Nets center Tyler Zeller (44) has his shot blocked by Portland Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless (4) during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game in New York, Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
Brooklyn Nets center Jarrett Allen (31) attempts a shot as Portland Trail Blazers forwards Maurice Harkless (4) and Ed Davis (17) block the shot during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game in New York, Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) attempts a pass as Brooklyn Nets guard Caris LeVert (22) defends during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in New York, Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
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