PORTLAND — Few teams in the NBA this season have created their own opportunities for success better than the Portland Trail Blazers and Sunday was the latest chapter in a surprising season that’s been far from accidental.
The Blazers came out victorious again, winning their 14th out of their last 17, 115-111, in a tight one with potential playoff implications against the Utah Jazz.
CJ McCollum (31 points, three assists) and Damian Lillard (30 points, five assists) combined for 61 points in the win but, just as it has been during this stretch, the dynamic duo would have been nowhere were it not for some help from their friends.
Sunday, Mason Plumlee’s five-steps-ahead decision making was key late and the relentless hustle of Maurice Harkless helped the Blazers make good on a dynamic outing from their two stars.
Harkless had 17 points and seven rebounds, scoring in double-figures for the fifth straight game, all Blazers wins. And Plumlee had a vintage Plumlee line of nine points, nine rebounds and six assists.
Harkless was big after coming in the second quarter and Plumlee was solid throughout, making key plays on both sides of the court in the final 30 seconds.
The performances of a rotating cast of role players hasn’t been an accident either.
Harkless has dealt with the most lineup uncertainty of probably anyone on the team, playing 30 minutes one night and five the next, before getting DNPs for five straight games.
But throughout it all, the fourth year New York native hasn’t complained.
“He’s probably the most low maintenance teammate,” Plumlee said of Harkless.
If you ask Al-Farouq Aminu, Harkless’ success is a result of the team’s culture.
“I’ve talked about it from day one, I love the culture,” Aminu said. “I remember from training camp: people staying after to get shots. That’s how you can catch little bubbles like this. It’s no accident. It happens on purpose.”
Plumlee was huge in two key sequences late in the game on both sides of the court.
The vaunted Jazz defense forced Lillard to give the ball up to Plumlee, catching the ball in a familiar position at the top of the key against Rudy Gobert, but he picked up his dribble.
“When we hit Mase, the play was kind of dead and I heard their coach say, ‘don’t let him get it, don’t let him get it,’ ” Lillard said.
Plumlee’s decision making when he gets the ball has been key for Portland all season and once again, he showed he can be trusted, patiently waiting for the outcome Jazz coach Quin Snyder warned against but Plumlee knew was inevitable.
“Just keeping your cool,” Plumlee said. “Knowing that you can only hold Dame so long. Nine times out of 10 he’s going to be faster than his defender. It’s just a matter of time before he breaks loose.”
On Portland’s next defensive possession, Plumlee was unable to corral a rebound but smartly threw the ball of Utah’s Derrick Favors to get the ball back to Portland so they could ice the game at the free-throw line.
“It’s just a matter of time,” rang true with Lillard getting Portland’s final field goal but was also true of his entire game.
McCollum had it going all night, but Lillard exploded in the second half.
A 3-pointer at the 8:50 mark of the third quarter was his first of the game and the first of four 3-pointers in a span of just over 90 seconds.
Lillard had 15 of his 30 points in the third period, helping the Blazers cut Utah’s lead to just two heading into the 4th quarter.
“Tonight it was like (CJ) would have eight then I would have six and then (CJ) would have seven then I would have 12,” Lillard said. “They had to play it honest. It was very necessary. Every point that we did score was needed.”
