----- The Portland Trail Blazers snap the Chicago Bulls seven-game home winning streak with a 124-120 win Monday at United Center in Chicago.
The Trail Blazers began the new year by showing a tremendous amount of guts and guile in their 124-120 overtime win over the Chicago Bulls at United Center.
Trailing by six points at 108-102 with 2:37 to play, the Blazers closed the game on a 10-4 run to force overtime with CJ McCollum scoring the game-tying bucket with under a minute to play. McCollum scored seven of his game-high 32 points in overtime including the final four points of the game.
McCollum had plenty of help from his teammates tonight. Evan Turner scored 22 points on 10-for-14 shooting, Al-Farouq Aminu added 24 points connecting on 5-for-7 of his shots from downtown, and Pat Connaughton added 16 points off the bench.
With the win, Portland (19-17) improved their road record to 11-7 on the year. They won just 16 games on the road all of last season.
Chicago (13-24) got 22 points from Kris Dunn and 19 points from Lauri Markkanen. The loss was the first for the Bulls in seven home games.
Damian Lillard once again was held out of action with a strained hamstring. He will be a game time decision tomorrow night in Cleveland.
Next up- The Trail Blazers will travel to Cleveland to meet the Cavaliers in the second of a back-to-back. Isaiah Thomas will make his season debut for Cleveland. Game is scheduled to tip off at 4:00 PM.
Chad's take- When Evan Turner shoots 10-for-14 from the field, the Trail Blazers are probably going to win.