NETS GAMENIGHT: #Trailblazers (8-2) @ #Nets (3-6)

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Updated: November 18, 2013

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Portland Trailblazers (8-2) @ Brooklyn Nets (3-5)

Barclays Center 7:30

TV: YES – RADIO: WFAN 660 AM/101.9 FM[/box]

[quote_simple]NETS STARTERS

The starting lineup will be different again with Shaun Livingston playing alongside Joe Johnson in the backcourt with Paul Pierce, Andray Blatche and the man in the middle Kevin Garnett  up front. (This could change)

Pierce will be a game-time decision as he is still dealing with a strained groin that he suffered in the win at Phoenix so the bench will be front and center once again.

Rookie Mason Plumlee had a career night with a season high 27 minutes and scored a career-high 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting while grabbing six rebounds (four offensive) and blocking one shot. His energy and effort is visible to anyone watching and it is something the Nets lack in this early season.

TRAILBLAZERS STARTERS

The Trailblazers starting lineup will be Damian Lillard and Wesley Matthews  in the backcourt with Nicholas Batum, LaMarcus Aldridge and Robin Lopez playing in the frontcourt.

The Trail Blazers are hot and look to continue their solid 3-point shooting and win a seventh straight game in Brooklyn.  Portland ranks third in the NBA in offensive efficiency and fourth in 3-point field-goal percentage (42%)

The Trailblazers have been playing very well as they record shows but they seem to have a problem keeping leads and it causes them to fight for every win rather than cruise to easy wins.

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[quote_simple][box]Game Notes:

The Nets have won three straight against Portland and their last loss came on 4/4/12 in Portland.

The Nets swept the 2012-13 season series against Portland 2-0, winning by an average margin of victory of 15.5 points per game.

Twin brothers Brook and Robin Lopez will meet for the eighth time in their NBA careers and Robin leads the all-time series 4-3.

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[box]WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Bench needs to come up big

The Nets depth was tested on Saturday when they took on the Clippers and almost left LA with a shocking win on the road missing  4-of-5 starters.

Blatche, Alan Anderson and Tyshawn Taylor will need to perform the way they did in LA and if they do they might just get a home win and get the Nets on a roll.

Brooklyn needs to get out to the 3-point shooters of Portland or it could be a long night.

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[box]INJURY REPORT

NETS

Andrei Kirilenko – OUT (back spasms)

Deron Williams – OUT (sprained left ankle)

Brook Lopez – OUT (sprained ankle)

Kevin Garnett – probable (sprained ankle)

Paul Pierce – game-time decision (strained groin)

TRAILBLAZERS

Meyers Leonard – questionable (gastroenteritis)

CJ McCollum – OUT (fractured left foot)

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