Blazers, without Damian Lillard, rally to beat Spurs
FILE — Portland Trail Blazers guard Norman Powell (24) celebrates a three-point shot against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports
Norman Powell hit the game-winning shot with 22.8 seconds remaining as the short-handed Portland Trail Blazers came from behind to beat the host San Antonio Spurs 107-106 on Friday.
CJ McCollum scored 29 points while Powell added 22 for Portland, which had lost four of its previous five games. Portland star Damian Lillard sat out Friday due to a right hamstring injury.
The Spurs led by 16 midway through the third quarter before Portland rallied to tie the contest early in the fourth.
NORM POWELL. GAME WINNER. pic.twitter.com/RP7kthpFlG
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) April 17, 2021
After Powell’s late go-ahead hoop, San Antonio had three chances to hit the winning shot in the final seconds while grabbing two offensive rebounds, but DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gay and Jakob Poeltl couldn’t convert.
San Antonio committed seven turnovers in the fourth quarter that led to nine points for the Trail Blazers.
Anfernee Simons added 16 points for the Blazers, who snapped a two-game losing streak. Carmelo Anthony scored 13 and Enes Kanter contributed 10 points and 13 rebounds.
DeRozan led the Spurs with 26 points and added 10 assists. Poeltl had 17 points, Drew Eubanks scored 15 points, Dejounte Murray had 13 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists (his third triple-double of the season) and Derrick White tallied 13 points for San Antonio, which has lost two straight games.
"I got to the free throw line a little bit, got out in transition. I think that's ultimately what changed the game."@brookeolzendam chats with @CJMcCollum after the big win in San Antonio in tonight's @Biofreeze Top Performance Review. pic.twitter.com/F3xiMLW7Ez
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) April 17, 2021
The Spurs led by as many as 10 points in the first quarter before settling for a 31-28 lead after 12 minutes.
The lead changed hands several times in the second quarter, and the Spurs held a 57-48 advantage at halftime. DeRozan’s basket with 34.3 seconds allowed him to lead San Antonio’s attack with 14 first-half points. Eubanks added 11 points over the first two periods for the Spurs.
McCollum paced the Trail Blazers with 14 points in the half.
Portland scored 24 of the final 34 points of the third quarter, pulling to within 85-83 at the end of the period after a layup by Powell with 1.6 seconds remaining.
