Lillard leads late rally in Blazers' win over Heat
The Sports Xchange
Dec 13, 2017
MIAMI -- C.J. McCollum scored a game-high 28 points and Damian Lillard came alive late as the Portland Trail Blazers rallied from a 16-point second-half deficit to defeat the Miami Heat 102-95 on Wednesday night at American Airlines Arena.
Lillard, who has scored more than 30 points 10 times this season, had been held to nine points through three quarters. But he finished with 18 points to help Portland (14-13) snap a season-high five-game losing streak.
Miami (13-14) was led by reserve guard Wayne Ellington, who had 24 points.
Pressed into duty when starter Goran Dragic picked up two fouls in the first three minutes of the game, Ellington made all seven of his first-half shots -- all of them on three-pointers. He also picked up playing time that normally goes to combo guard Tyler Johnson, who missed the game due to a migraine headache.
The loss denied -- for now, at least -- Heat coach Erik Spoelstra from reaching an important milestone. Spoelstra has 453 wins, one short of the Heat franchise coaching record held by current team president Pat Riley.
Zach Collins, a 7-foot rookie center and Portland's first-round pick, made his first NBA start due to the illness/injury situation regarding the Blazers' top two centers Jusuf Nurkic and Meyers Leonard. Collins, the 10th overall pick this year, responded with nine points, three rebounds and one block.
The Blazers got good news with the return of forward Maurice Harkless, who had missed two consecutive games due to an injury to his left quadriceps. He played nine minutes but did not score.
Miami shot 52.2 percent from the floor in the first quarter, including 8-of-13 on three-pointers (61.5 percent). The Heat also held Portland to 43.8-percent shooting, leading to Miami's 33-21 lead.
Portland won the second and third quarters but still trailed 79-70 entering the fourth.
The Blazers took their first lead of the game, 89-88, at 6:10 of the fourth quarter on a three-point play by Ed Davis. Lillard got hot down the stretch as Portland won its fourth straight game in its series against Miami.
NOTES: Portland is 7-5 on the road this season. Miami is 5-7 at home. ... Heat F Justise Winslow sprained his left knee in the second quarter and did not return. ... Blazers C Meyers Leonard (illness) sat out. ... Blazers C Jusuf Nurkic missed his third straight game due to an sprained right ankle. ... Heat C Hassan Whiteside (left knee) is expected to miss the rest of the month. ... Heat G Tyler Johnson sat out the game due to a migraine headache. Even though he is a reserve, Johnson is fifth on the team in scoring (10.8) and tied for fourth in assists (2.0). He is also second on the team in free throw percentage (91.5).
Dec 13, 2017
MIAMI -- C.J. McCollum scored a game-high 28 points and Damian Lillard came alive late as the Portland Trail Blazers rallied from a 16-point second-half deficit to defeat the Miami Heat 102-95 on Wednesday night at American Airlines Arena.
Lillard, who has scored more than 30 points 10 times this season, had been held to nine points through three quarters. But he finished with 18 points to help Portland (14-13) snap a season-high five-game losing streak.
Miami (13-14) was led by reserve guard Wayne Ellington, who had 24 points.
Pressed into duty when starter Goran Dragic picked up two fouls in the first three minutes of the game, Ellington made all seven of his first-half shots -- all of them on three-pointers. He also picked up playing time that normally goes to combo guard Tyler Johnson, who missed the game due to a migraine headache.
The loss denied -- for now, at least -- Heat coach Erik Spoelstra from reaching an important milestone. Spoelstra has 453 wins, one short of the Heat franchise coaching record held by current team president Pat Riley.
Zach Collins, a 7-foot rookie center and Portland's first-round pick, made his first NBA start due to the illness/injury situation regarding the Blazers' top two centers Jusuf Nurkic and Meyers Leonard. Collins, the 10th overall pick this year, responded with nine points, three rebounds and one block.
The Blazers got good news with the return of forward Maurice Harkless, who had missed two consecutive games due to an injury to his left quadriceps. He played nine minutes but did not score.
Miami shot 52.2 percent from the floor in the first quarter, including 8-of-13 on three-pointers (61.5 percent). The Heat also held Portland to 43.8-percent shooting, leading to Miami's 33-21 lead.
Portland won the second and third quarters but still trailed 79-70 entering the fourth.
The Blazers took their first lead of the game, 89-88, at 6:10 of the fourth quarter on a three-point play by Ed Davis. Lillard got hot down the stretch as Portland won its fourth straight game in its series against Miami.
NOTES: Portland is 7-5 on the road this season. Miami is 5-7 at home. ... Heat F Justise Winslow sprained his left knee in the second quarter and did not return. ... Blazers C Meyers Leonard (illness) sat out. ... Blazers C Jusuf Nurkic missed his third straight game due to an sprained right ankle. ... Heat C Hassan Whiteside (left knee) is expected to miss the rest of the month. ... Heat G Tyler Johnson sat out the game due to a migraine headache. Even though he is a reserve, Johnson is fifth on the team in scoring (10.8) and tied for fourth in assists (2.0). He is also second on the team in free throw percentage (91.5).
