----- Rudy Gay and Patty Mills combine for 42 points as the San Antonio Spurs defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 125-104 Monday afternoon at Moda Center.
There was some good news in Monday's 125-104 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Rodney Hood made his first start of the season playing in place of the injured CJ McCollum (left foot) and scored a season-high 21 points.
Hood connected on 9 of his 14 shots from the field in 25 minutes. He had scored just 18 points on the season going into today's game.
"If there was one positive from the game today, it was was Rodney Hood," Coach Terry Stotts said. "He looked like the Rodney Hood that we're used to."
A Carmelo Anthony jumper gave Portland a lead of 80-78 with 2:24 remaining in the third quarter, but the Spurs responded with a quick 11-0 run to take control of the game. The Spurs opened the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run and closed on a 15-5 run to put the game away. The 38 fourth-quarter points was a season-high for points in a quarter by the Spurs.
LaMarcus Aldridge led San Antonio (8-6) with 22 points and DeMar DeRozan added 20 points and 11 assists.
Rudy Gay and Patty Mills came off the bench for 21 points apiece as the Spurs reserves outscored Portland backups 59-24. Jakob Poeltl added 11 points and seven rebounds, six of which came on the offensive glass.
Damian Lillard scored a game-high 35 points and Carmelo Anthony added 14 off the bench.
The Blazers connected on just 10-of-35 from three-point range (28.6%). That was a season-low in makes and shooting percentage.
Up Next- The Blazers will meet the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday night at Moda Center. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7:00 PM.
Chad's Take- I thought Coach Stotts was crazy to start Rodney Hood. I was wrong.