Portland, OR – Reggie Evans poured in 22 points and grabbed a career-high 26 rebounds, as the Brooklyn Nets pummeled the Portland Trail Blazers, 111-93, on Wednesday at the Rose Garden.
Brook Lopez led the Nets with 28 points, while Andray Blatche, Gerald Wallace and MarShon Brooks each added 12 points for Brooklyn, which has won two straight to remain 2 1/2 games back of the Atlantic Division-leading New York Knicks.
"When he's playing the way he is the past how ever many games, he definitely makes us a way better team," Lopez said about Evans.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored a team-high 24 points, while Damian Lillard finished with 15 points, despite being held scoreless in the first half for the first time this season.
Meyers Leonard added 11 points and nine boards for the Blazers, who have lost two straight and sit 3 1/2 games back of the Los Angeles Lakers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Aldridge opened the contest with a jumper, but the Nets responded with a 16-2 push and never looked back. Lopez capped the outburst with a three-point play, giving Brooklyn a double-digit lead it would not relinquish.
The Nets led by 20 after 12 minutes and opened the second on a 9-0 sprint to take 46-17 advantage just under two minutes in. Portland got as close as 19 late in the half, but Brooklyn was able to push the margin to 64-41 at the break.
The Blazers never threatened in the third and trailed by as many as 30 after Evans converted a three-point play with 2:32 left.
Brooklyn maintained a 95-69 cushion after three quarters and led by 25 early in the fourth before the Blazers stormed back with an 11-0 surge that Luke Babbitt capped with a 3-pointer to make it 101-87 with six minutes left.
Portland never got closer though, as the Nets were able to weather the storm by scoring the next six points before cruising to victory down the stretch.
"That was obviously very discouraging the way we came out and played at the beginning of the game," Portland coach Terry Stotts said. "For whatever reason, we just weren't there."
Game Notes
Brooklyn improved to 19-3 when scoring 100-plus points ... The Nets improved to 20-15 as the visitor this season, giving them 20-road wins in a season for the first time since 2005-06 ... Brooklyn took the first meeting against Portland this season, a 98-85 decision on Nov. 25 in Brooklyn ... Portland fell to 22-12 at home.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.