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Trail Blazers 118, Pistons 99
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
PORTLAND, Ore. — Guard Damian Lillard scored 28 points and dished out nine assists to lead the Portland Trail Blazers past the Detroit Pistons 118-99 Friday night at the Moda Center.
Forward LaMarcus Aldridge had 22 points despite not playing in the fourth quarter for the Trail Blazers (43-20), who won for the seventh time in eight outings. Forward Meyers Leonard came off the bench for a season-high 15 points and seven rebounds and guard Arron Afflalo added 15 points for the Blazers.
Forward Greg Monroe scored 19 points and center Andre Drummond collected 16 points and 17 rebounds for the Pistons (23-42), who lost their ninth game in a row. Guard Jodie Meeks scored 14 points and guard Reggie Jackson had 11 points and 10 assists for the losers.
Portland shot a season-best .575 from the field, including 11-for-21 (.524) from 3-point range, and won the rebound battle 43-36.
Lillard scored 15 points with five assists and Aldridge added 12 points as Portland carried a 64-46 edge into halftime. The Blazers shot .571 from the field — and hit 6 of 9 from 3-point range — in the half. Monroe had 15 points and Drummond 10 points and eight rebounds for the Pistons.
The difference was 86-65 when the Pistons made a run, scoring nine straight points to draw within 86-74 with 2:29 left in the third quarter. Portland took a 95-78 lead into the final period.
Forward Tayshaun Prince knocked down a 3-pointer, then Meeks converted a pair of free throws to close the gap to 101-89 with 7:43 left. But Leonard scored on a dunk and Lillard scored eight in a row — on a pair of 3s and a long jumper — to cap a 10-0 run that buried the Pistons.
With Monroe doing the heavy lifting early, Detroit jumped to a 17-12 lead. But Lillard hit back-to-back 3s to key a 13-1 run that pushed Portland ahead 25-18. Lillard had 13 points and Aldridge 10 as the Blazers carried a 35-24 advantage into the second quarter.
Leonard and reserve center Chris Kaman led the way as Portland built a 56-38 advantage with four minutes left in the quarter. The Blazers then took an 18-point lead into intermission.
NOTES: In his two previous games, Detroit C Andre Drummond had 46 rebounds, including 21 at the offensive end. “Right now, he’s the best offensive rebounder in the league,” Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy said. “Back-to-back 20-plus rebounds — he’s phenomenal.” … Both teams were without starting shooting guards. Wesley Matthews of the Trail Blazers and Brandon Jennings of the Pistons are lost for the season after Achilles’ tendon surgery. … During an eight-game losing streak, the Pistons suffered no loss by more than 10 points. “The common denominator has been poor shooting,” Van Gundy said. … Portland reserve F Alonzo Gee missed the game after undergoing surgery to remove three wisdom teeth on Thursday. Coach Terry Stotts said he was hopeful that Gee will be available for Sunday’s game at Toronto, the first stop on the Blazers’ upcoming five-game trip. … In his previous eight games, Portland F Nicolas Batum averaged 14.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists while shooting 51.9 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from 3-point range.
