Lillard Rallies Portland Past Orlando, NBA Scores

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Published on February 24 2017 6:05 am
Last Updated on February 24 2017 6:06 am

BY ESPN

Damian Lillard felt fresh after the All-Star break.

Aside from going to the Trail Blazers facility for treatment each morning, Lillard spent the majority of his time at home watching television, relaxing and consuming water. If his first game back from break was any indication, it was exactly what he needed.

Lillard scored 17 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter to rally struggling Portland to a 112-103 victory over the Orlando Magic on Thursday night.

"I truly believe that break played a part in me being able to come out fresh," said Lillard, who fought through picking up three fouls in the first half. "Even though I got into foul trouble early in the game, I still felt good. I didn't feel discouraged about that and I think that played a huge part in that fourth quarter."

Lillard brought the Blazers back from an 11-point deficit early in the fourth with a couple of big 3-pointers and drives to the basket during a stretch in which Portland outscored Orlando 16-4 to claim the lead. Lillard's 3-pointer from the corner with 5:21 remaining gave the Blazers their first lead since the first quarter at 96-95.

Portland would not trail again even though the game remained close down the stretch.

"He has done that often in his career," said Portland coach Terry Stotts, whose team snapped a three-game losing streak. "When he gets to rolling like that ... I don't know if it's a normal thing but it's certainly not surprising."

But what may have been surprising was the defense of seldom-used guard Shabazz Napier, who put a stop to the penetration of Orlando guard Elfrid Payton in the second half. Napier played so well that Stotts played a three-guard lineup for much of the final 24 minutes to allow Napier, C.J. McCollum and Lillard to be on the floor together.

"More than anything else it was his defense," Stotts said of Napier. "I liked his defense on the ball and I just didn't feel comfortable taking him out."

The Blazers spoiled Terrence Ross' Magic debut and also sent Orlando to its sixth loss in its last seven games.

The Magic led by as many as 14 points, but the all-too-familiar breakdowns on the interior defense and the inability to get consistent points outside of Nikola Vucevic plagued them down the stretch.

Orlando coach Frank Vogel couldn't hide his frustration as his team's already slim playoff chances fade with each loss.

"That's exactly what I'm talking about," Vogel said. "Up nine or whatever we were in the fourth quarter, you should win that game."

It was the exact opposite feeling in the Blazers' locker room. They had lost six of their last eight games entering Thursday night.

"Getting that feeling that we did much better than we have all season," Lillard said. "We got a big win on the road."


Thursday, February 23 Scoreboard

Portland 112, Orlando 103

Detroit 114, Charlotte 108 (OT)

Houston 129, New Orleans 99

Cleveland 119, New York 104

Golden State 123, Los Angeles Clippers 113

Sacramento 116, Denver 100

 

Friday, February 24 Schedule (All Times Central)

Washington at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.

Memphis at Indiana, 6 p.m.

Boston at Toronto, 6 p.m.

Phoenix at chicago, 6 p.m.

Utah at Milwaukee, 6 p.m.

Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City, 6 p.m.

Dallas at Minnesota, 6 p.m.

Miami at Atlanta, 6 p.m.

Brooklyn at Denver, 7 p.m.

San Antonio at Los Angeles Clippers, 9:30 p.m.


Saturday, February 25 Schedule (All Times Central)

Charlotte at Sacramento, 4 p.m.

Atlanta at Orlando, 6 p.m.

Philadelphia at New York, 6:30 p.m.

Indiana at Miami, 7 p.m.

New Orleans at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.

Chicago at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.

Minnesota at Houston, 8 p.m.

Brooklyn at Golden State, 9:30 p.m.


Sunday, February 26 Schedule (All Times Central)

San Antonio at Los Angeles Lakers, 2:30 p.m.

Phoenix at Milwaukee, 2:30 p.m.

Memphis at Denver, 4 p.m.

Utah at Washington, 4 p.m.

Portland at Toronto, 5 p.m.

Boston at Detroit, 5 p.m.

New Orleans at Oklahoma City, 6 p.m.

Charlotte at Los Angeles Clippers, 8:30 p.m.