Jerami Grant and the Portland Trail Blazers win against Brooklyn as Anfernee Simons sweeps the Nets on a floater before the end of regulation in Portland. The Blazers claim the series against the Nets and rise to 11-29. The Nets fall to 16-24 and 11th in the Eastern Conference.
The Blazers missed center Deandre Ayton due to inclement weather that covered Portland’s roads with ice. Shaedon Sharpe also did not dress due to an abdominal strain. The Nets went without Dariq Whitehead (foot), Ben Simmons (back) and Day’Ron Sharpe (knee).
Star Efforts
Jerami Grant played a sensational game, ending with a game-high 30 points and eight rebounds. Grant went deep into his bag of tricks with baby hooks, scoop shots and dream shakes. One particular play involved a fake dribble that fooled the entire arena into an easy layup.
Anfernee Simons, for his part, started off slow, struggling to find his shot or a way to the line until the final frame. He scored 13 in the fourth quarter and finished off the Nets with his patented midrange floater. When the dust settled, he had 20 points, four rebounds and four assists.
Mikal Bridges had a blue collar game, finishing with 21 points, four rebounds and four assists on 7-18 shooting. He had to leave the game briefly after colliding with the Blazers’ Jabari Walker. He would return to the game.
In his absence, Spencer Dinwiddie picked up the slack with 19 points and seven assists on 5-8 shooting. He was absolutely lethal beyond the arc and behind the free throw line, going 3-4 and 6-7 respectively.
Every Game a Story: Simons Sweeps the Nets
Coming into the game, both teams were on a three game slide and in dire need of a win. While Jacque Vaughan held steady, Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups decided to make a lineup change; Scoot Henderson and Toumani Camara out of the starting lineup, Malcolm Brogdon and Jabari Walker in.
The result was a game that featured 14 lead changes and 14 ties. Both teams started in zone defense and both teams promptly decided that did not matter. Brooklyn fed Nic Claxton early and he punished the smaller Duop Reath en route to his 14th double-double of the season. Bridges also started the game hot, scoring all over the court for 10 points.
Reath responded right back, leading Portland’s scoring with nine points. He would buoy the Blazers with 17 points and 7 rebounds. Jerami Grant figured out the zone quickly as well, adding six for the period. A late jumper by Ibou Badji would give the Blazers the lead 24-23.
The second quarter would feature the Lonnie Walker IV for the Nets as he poured in 13 points and sniped 3-6 from range. Brooklyn finished the half shooting 9-23 on three pointers. The Blazers ran an offense by committee to so-so effectiveness as the Nets reclaimed the lead 52-51.
In the third quarter, the lineup change for the Blazer allowed for Brogdon to show his quality. He led the Blazers on an 11-3 run, scoring eight and assisting a Jabari Walker three-point make to take the lead 67-60.
The Blazers would protect this lead until a series of turnovers from Henderson and curious choice by Billups to go small allowed the Nets the surge in the last three minutes of the quarter. Despite Bridges’ exit, Dinwiddie and Cam Thomas pushed Brooklyn to the lead on 24-5 run. However, a last-second finger roll from Brogdon would provide crucial as the Nets led 83-74.
In the fourth quarter, the Blazers built on Brogdon’s momentum and stormed to an 88-87 lead on a 14-4 run. Simons and Grant attacked the basket with abandon. Both teams would make multiple trips to the charity stripe before a Simons’ pullup jumper on the baseline would knot it up at 101.
A returned Bridges would respond with a driving reverse layup, but the ball caught nothing but air. Brogdon would attempt a three after Brooklyn double-teamed Simons with 10 seconds left to go. The resulting scrum on the glass led to a tip-shot by Grant for his 30th point of the night and a 103-101 lead.
But the Nets were not finished. Dinwiddie found Cam Johnson on the inbounds play as Johnson hesitated and then drove on Grant. Despite a near-block, he found glass and the rim. 103-103, timeout Blazers.
For the last play of the game, Bridges motioned to Johnson to come double-team Simons. Johnson did not see the motion. Simons grabbed the ball on the sideout, and immediately attacked, crossing Bridges to the middle of the paint and then rising for the floater. Ballgame.
Simons struck a Gladiator’s pose and the Nets were left with nothing but two-tenths on the clock. One desperate lob attempt later and the Blazers walked off the floor as winners, 105-103.
The Stats Are a Battlefield
Reviewing the team statistics of this game reveals just how impossible it is to replicate a win like this for the Blazers. Portland finally topped their opponents on total field goals and percentage. The Blazers shot 42-86 (48.8%) to Brooklyn’s 35-73 (47.9%). However, the Nets outperformed their hosts from three, 15-38 (39.5%) to 9-27 (33.3%).
Brooklyn also found a favorable whistle, going to the line 27 times to Portland’s 14 attempts. Unfortunately, they failed to capitalize and finished 18-27 (66.7%) to Portland’s respectable 12-14 (85.7%). The Nets made more assists, 28-21, forced more turnovers, 13-11, pocketed more steals, 9-2, and edged the Blazers in blocks, 3-2. Brooklyn’s bench also outperformed Portland’s 31-18.
But the Blazers took control of the boards, 41-33, and dominated the offensive glass 10-6. They outscored the Nets in the paint, 50-40, and they capitalized off turnovers, 19-9. At the end of the day, the Blazers were lucky their opponents did not seal the deal on the free throw line and made the most of their chances when they had them.
Where To Next?
The Blazers will finish their three-game homestand against the newly reinforced Indiana Pacers on Friday night. The Nets continue on a West Coast swing to Los Angeles, playing the Lakers on ESPN under the Friday night lights as well.
