The Portland Trail Blazers blasted the Indiana Pacers tonight, relegating their hosts to the wrong end of a 127-119 final score. It was the 10th straight loss for the Pacers. Deni Avdija led the Blazers with 32 points. Ivica Zubac paced with Pacers with 18.
Player of the Game
Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan were a lethal combination in this game. Deni looked a lot like the guy who was named to the NBA All-Star Game: 32 points, 5 assists and 11 rebounds. Donovan logged 28 points, 13 rebounds (6 offensive) and 2 blocks.
And if you want a little more, he was 3 for 5 from beyond the three-point line.
Stat of the Night
Both teams shot fairly well, but they didn’t handle their misses in quite the same way. The Blazers won the battle of the boards 52-38 overall, 22-9 with the offensive variety. Clingan entered the game leading the NBA in offensive rebounding average. That number is going nowhere but up after this performance.
What We Noticed
The Pacers came into this contest on a string of defeats nine games long, which fits the definition of a trap game to a T. No problem for the Blazers this time around. They scored 79 points in the first half, their highest total at the halftime break so far this season. They dominated the paint as well.
Of course, nothing comes easily in this league. The Pacers closed hard and kept the outcome in doubt until Jrue Holiday sank a clutch three from the corner in the closing minute to calm the storm.
Up Next
The Blazers will try for three wins in a row as they face the Minnesota Timberwolves in Minneapolis on Friday. Game time is 5 p.m. PDT.
