NETS GAMENIGHT: #Nets @ #Trailblazers
Brooklyn Nets (41-29) @ Portland Trailblazers (33-37)
Rose Garden 10:30
TV: YES/ESPN – RADIO: WFAN 660 AM/101.9 FM
The road trip continues for the Brooklyn Nets with a trip to the Rose Garden to take on the Portland Trailblazers who are fighting for their playoff lives. Portland is in 11th place in the conference and trails the Los Angeles Lakers by 2 1/2 games with 12 remaining. The Nets are 3-1 on the their 8-game road trip and look to add another victory tonight in a tough place to win.
The Nets are coming off a tight win on Phoenix, 102-100, where they allowed the struggling Suns to get back into the game in the third quarter behind the red-hot shooting of Wesley Johnson and his five 3-pointers. Kris Humphries played very well and scored 17 points after not playing for eight games. Joe Johnson sat out the game with a quad contusion so Deron Williams stepped up in Johnson’s absence, scoring 20 points and adding 11 assists.
[blockquote]”A win is a win. We will take it,” Williams said. “It is a good start (on the road). It wasn’t the way we wanted to win it but it is a win none the less and puts us 3-1 which is pretty good on this road trip.”[/blockquote]
The Trailblazers are coming off a five game road trip where they went 2-3 and played well at times. They are clinging to their playoff lives and the frontcourt of JJ Hicksona and LeMarcus Aldridge are doing a great job dominating the paint. The Nets will have to contain Hickson on the offensive glass while keeping the ball out of the hands of Lilliard to come away with another road win in Rip City.
MATCHUP OF THE GAME: Deron Williams vs Damian Lillard
Deron Williams is averaging 25 points on the trip and providing great leadership, production and focus. This matchup with the ultra quick Lilliard will be a test without his backcourt mate Joe Johnson. He must stay in front of Lillard for the Nets to grab this win in Rip City.
Damian Lillard finished with 19 points, four rebounds and six assists in 38 minutes in the loss to the Hornets. The rookie is destined to win ROY and shows poise beyond his years. The ability to hit big shots in crunch time separates him from most rookies and his 19 points and six assists is one of the main reason that Portland has even a remote chance at the playoffs.
STAT FOR TONIGHT: A win would be the 20th road victory of the season, which would tie the franchise record for the most road wins in a season.
Joe Johnson (right thigh contusion) is out