The Blazers played their second scrimmage game of the NBA restart in Orlando against the defending champion Toronto Raptors. They were without star player Damian Lillard who sat out with left foot inflammation. CJ McCollum led Portland in his place with 21 points and 5 assists. Again though, Jusuf Nurkic was the story of the game.
Nurkic pulled an all out effort scoring, rebounding, blocking, throwing assists inside to Collins, hitting his first three and diving for loose balls in scary fashion. He finished with 17 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. A toned Carmelo Anthony finished with 14 points after playing a physical game, even headbutting an opponent after a contested layup. Anfernee Simons struggled to find himself but finished with 13 points and had a late dramatic blocked shot that kept the Blazers in the game.
The Raptors though outscored Portland 38-21 in the third quarter and held off the Blazers as they made several runs to try and come back. They were led by Serge Ibaka with 19 points and Pascal Siakam with 18 points. Rookie Matt Thomas scored 16 points off the bench on 4-7 shooting from deep. Kyle Lowry and Terence Davis both finished with 13 points a piece.
44 of the Raptors 88 shot attempts were three pointers.
The Blazers play the Thunder on Tuesday.
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