----- Shabazz Napier and CJ McCollum combine to score 67 points as the Trail Blazers end a six-game home losing streak with a 114-110 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers Thursday night at Moda Center.
The Blazers had plenty of reasons to lose to the Philadelphia 76ers at home on Thursday night. Damian Lillard was out of action with a bad hamstring, they were wearing the cursed red jerseys, and they fell behind by 18 points in the third quarter. But, the team responded with an inspired comeback that included a 42-point explosion in the fourth quarter.
The 76ers opened the third quarter on a 27-8 run to open up a 78-60 lead, but the Blazers weren't done. Portland closed the quarter on a 12-7 run thanks to seven quick points from Shabazz Napier to cut the deficit to 85-72 entering the fourth quarter. The Blazers erupted in the final quarter with a 23-2 run to take a 97-90 lead with 5:38 left in the game. Portland (18-16) outscored Philadelphia 42-25 in the fourth quarter. That was the most points scored by the Blazers in a single quarter this season.
Napier scored 15 points in the fourth quarter and 22 of his 23 points in the second half. CJ McCollum scored a game-high 34 points, and Jusuf Nurkic finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Nurkic was awakened early in the third after cutting his nose during a collision with JJ Reddick. Nurkic returned late in the third and played his most aggressive basketball of the season on both ends of the floor.
The win ended the Trail Blazers six-game losing streak at Moda Center.
Next up- The Trail Blazers now head to Atlanta to meet the Hawks on Saturday. Game is scheduled to tip off at 4:30 PM.
Chad's take- The Trail Blazers need more "Angry Nurkic."