Portland coach Terry Stotts led the Bucks from 2005-07 and served as an assistant to George Karl in Milwaukee from 1998-2002.
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Milwaukee found itself trailing by four late in the fourth quarter but made all the right plays down the stretch to escape with a 90-88 victory over Portland on Monday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. The burst included a ridiculous three-point play, which resulted from drawing a foul during an off-balance running jumper in the lane.
Milwaukee’s defense then was able to tie up CJ McCollum for a jump ball on the Blazers’ inbound pass. Michael Carter-Williams won the jump with McCollum, and Milwaukee took the lead on a pick-and-roll inside shot by Greg Monroe from Carter-Williams. Leonard immediately put up a shot with his right hand, but Bucks center John Henson erased it with his left.
Impressive display: The Cavs used a 60-31 run to turn a 47-29 deficit with 4:41 remaining in the second quarter into an 89-78 lead with 7:16 left in the fourth.
Forward Giannis Antetokoumpo led Milwaukee with 17 and nine rebounds while Monroe notched his 11th double-double of the season, finishing with 16 points and 12 boards.
Blazers guard Damian Lillard scored 33 points and guard C.J. McCollum had 24, but the Blazers lost for the second time in as many nights. 6 seconds left. After making his first free-throw, Carter-Williams missed his second intentionally and the Blazers’ full court heave fell short as time expired. Lillard led the Blazers with 12, and Delly led the Cavs with seven, as the first quarter winded down, 25-17 Blazers.
Antetokounmpo’s layup with 24 seconds left pulled Milwaukee to 86-84.
Lillard is a consummate professional though, so he casually nailed the free throw despite the sharp heckling. The Portland Trail Blazers are averaging 102.1 points on 44.8 percent shooting and allowing 102.2 points on 43.5 percent shooting.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, in Milwaukee for a business meeting, watched the game from a seat six rows up near midcourt. He hit on another post-up from the foul line after Tristan Thompson closed out on him around the 3-point line.
Trail Blazers: McCollum’s 3-pointer with 4:02 left in the second quarter was the only one Portland made in 15 attempts during the first half…. Milwaukee had 30 points in the paint to 18 for Portland at the end of the half.
The Cavs had been prone to slow starts recently and James seemed concerned Tuesday morning it could happen again, dismissing any advantage they may have just because the Blazers were playing the second night of a back-to-back after a last-second loss Monday at the Milwaukee Bucks. Henson charged and got the block.
The Portland Trail Blazers’ opponents have had an average turnover percentage of 11.9% this season.
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