The Portland Trail Blazers ventured into the Barclays Center to face the Brooklyn Nets on Friday missing three starters after forwards Deni Avdija and Jerami Grant were ruled out.
That wasn’t optimal, especially considering that the Blazers lost to the Nets at home on Jan. 14.
But the Blazers responded by playing one of their most efficient shooting games of the season to run away with a 121-102 victory.
Seven Blazers scored in double figures, led by guard Shaedon Sharpe. He scored 25 on 9-of-14 shooting to follow up his career-high 36 points during Wednesday night’s win at the Washington Wizards.
The Blazers shot 57.7% from the field, their third-best night of the season, to overcome 22 turnovers. Portland also shot 41.7% from three-point range and had 31 assists on 45 made field goals.
“I liked it all,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups told reporters at the Barclays Center. “I love the way we started the game. We knew that this team had very similar traits. They like to put a lot of pressure on you. They like to be very disruptive. So, we spent most of the day just talking about how we would try to alleviate the pressure … I thought our guys really, really executed, and did an awesome job of being patient when they picked up their pressure.”
Dalano Banton came off the bench to score 23, with 16 in the fourth quarter. Anfernee Simons scored 14 with six assists and Scoot Henderson came off the bench for 12 points and nine assists.
With Grant (knee) and Avdija (quad) out, Billups started Henderson and forward Kris Murray.
The Blazers didn’t skip a beat during one of their best offensive halves of the season. They shot 64.1% from the field and 10 of 20 (50%) from three-point range to build a 64-47 halftime lead.
“We really shot it well,” Billups said. “Particularly in the first half.”
Brooklyn Nets’ Tyrese Martin (13) defends Portland Trail Blazers’ Toumani Camara (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) APAP
Sharpe scored 14 points in the first quarter on 6-of-6 shooting. Toumani Camara had 15 points in the first half and finished with 19.
The Nets made things interesting in the third quarter. After falling behind by 21 early, the Nets moved to within 91-82 with 38 seconds remaining when former Blazers forward Trendon Watford scored on a floater.
But the Blazers, led by Banton, dominated the fourth quarter 30-20 to run away with the win.
Cam Thomas, Killian Hayes and Nic Claxton each scored 16 points for the Nets, who shot 41.4% from the field and just 24.1% from three-point range (7 of 29).
“Our defense was excellent all night,” Billups said.
Other than turnovers, the Blazers’ main negative was shooting just 59.3% from the free-throw line (16 of 27). Donovan Clingan, who started in place of the injured Deandre Ayton (calf), scored 12 points with seven rebounds but went 2 of 7 at the free-throw line.
“He struggled at the line tonight,” Billups said. “But we all did.”
Portland Trail Blazers’ Dalano Banton (5) drives past Brooklyn Nets’ Nic Claxton (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) APAP
WHAT IT MEANS
The Blazers (27-33) won their fourth consecutive game and moved to within four games of 10th-place Sacramento (30-28). The Kings, off Friday, play Saturday at Houston (37-22).
The Nets (21-38) remained in 11th place in the Eastern Conference.
KRIS MURRAY
Blazers forward Kris Murray made the most of his second start of the season by scoring 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Nine of his points came in the third quarter.
DALANO BANTON
The guard/forward came off the bench to score 23 points, matching his season-high. Banton shot 8 of 11 from the field and 3 of 4 from three-point range. He also added eight rebounds in 24 minutes.
“Delano came in with some big minutes,” Billups said.
NEXT UP
The Blazers’ trip continues with a 12:30 p.m. game Sunday at the Cleveland Cavaliers (48-10).
— Aaron Fentress | [email protected] | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)
