And just like that, the shorthanded Portland Trail Blazers have a little bit of mojo.
The Blazers ended a three-game trip in impressive fashion Monday night, breezing past the Milwaukee Bucks 115-103 during a start-to-finish victory at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
Jerami Grant was prolific, Deni Avdija was efficient, the Blazers’ defense was suffocating and Portland’s three-point shooting was electric in the second game of a back-to-back. And it added up to the second win in three games for the Blazers (8-10), who seem to be creeping out of a funk caused by a rash of injuries.
One night after taking one on the chin in a loss at the reigning-champion Oklahoma City Thunder, it was the Blazers who were throwing early haymakers Monday.
They opened up a 12-point first-quarter lead over the Bucks, riding the scoring dominance of Grant and a barrage of three-pointers to an early edge. And it was merely a taste of things to come as Portland piled it on from there, pushing its lead to as many as 33 points in the fourth quarter in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score suggested.
Grant fueled the momentum early, scoring 13 points in the opening quarter, and stayed hot all night, finishing with a season-high 35 points. He scored all over the court, mixing three-pointers with midrange jumpers and crafty driving layups. But a sizable chunk of Grant’s damage came at the free throw line, as he routinely slithered into the paint and drew fouls from Milwaukee defenders.
The veteran wing, who moved into the starting lineup after injuries sidelined the Blazers starting backcourt, made 16 of 19 free throws — more than the Bucks did as a team (14 for 18).
If Grant wasn’t standing at the free throw line, odds are that some Blazers player was hoisting a three. They finished 18 of 43 from long-range, as seven different Blazers made at least one.
Avdija finished with 22 points, five assists and four rebounds, while making 5 of 7 threes. Toumani Camara (13 points, seven rebounds), Caleb Love (13 points, five rebounds) and Grant each made three.
But as aggressive and impressive as the Blazers’ offense was, their defense was even more difference-making. Camara was a menace in the backcourt, hounding and harassing Bucks ball-handlers for 94 feet. Donovan Clingan (14 points, 12 rebounds) and Robert Williams III (eight points, four blocks) were beasts in the middle, swatting shots, snaring rebounds and stabilizing the last line of defense. Collectively, Portland stifled pretty much everything Milwaukee wanted to do.
The Bucks (8-10) shot 44% from the field, including 36% from three-point range, and committed 13 turnovers. They did not reach the 30-point mark in any quarter.
And now, after suffering a four-game losing streak while battling multiple injuries and illnesses, the Blazers have responded with a 2-1 trip to build a little momentum at the end of November.
Top performers
Grant turned in one of his finest performances of the season, scoring 22 of his 35 points in the first half, when he set the tone for a team looking to move on from a forgettable night in Oklahoma City. Grant made 8 of 18 shots, including 3 of 7 threes, and was relentless at getting to the free throw line.
Bobby Portis led the Bucks with 22 points and six rebounds off the bench, making 9 of 15 field goals, including 4 of 5 threes.
It was over when
After building a commanding 95-74 lead through three quarters, the Blazers put the Bucks away at the start of the fourth, using a 14-2 run to turn the game into a laugher.
Grant and Clingan led the surge, combining to score the first nine points, as Clingan completed a pair of alley-oop lobs and swished a three, and Grant converted a driving layup. Love finished the run with a three and a pull-up jumper and the Blazers held their largest lead of the night at 109-76 with 8:41 left.
Next up
The Blazers play the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at the Moda Center. It will be their fourth and final matchup in West Group C of the NBA Cup.