When: January 15, 2016; 7:30 PM EST
Where: Barclays Center; Brooklyn, NY
TV: YES Network
Radio: WFAN 660 AM
Two days after the Nets’ first home win in over a month, Brooklyn is back in action at Barclays on Friday against a team which has two-fifths of its starting lineup provided by the Nets, via trades, in a way. The Portland Trail Blazers, in official rebuilding mode following an eventful offseason which saw longtime Blazers Nicholas Batum (trade to Charlotte), Wesley Matthews (signed with Dallas) and LaMarcus Aldridge (signed with San Antonio) held elsewhere.
But, Portland, under Terry Stotts, has a bright future with a star-studded backcourt of Damian Lillard (drafted with the first round pick acquired by Portland from the Nets in exchange for Gerald Wallace in 2012) and C.J. McCollum, a Lehigh product who has become a premier scorer this season and is primed to be the NBA’s Comeback Player of the Year.
Also, the Trail Blazers start former Net Mason Plumlee at center, whom they picked up on Draft Day this summer along with the draft rights to Pat Connaughton in exchange for the rights to the now-injured Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Steve Blake (now with the Pistons). This is the first time Plumlee will face the team that drafted him.
Probable lineups
POR- Damian Lillard (PG), C.J. McCollum (SG), Noah Vonleh (SF), Al-Farouq Aminu (PF), Mason Plumlee (C)
BKN- Donald Sloan (PG), Wayne Ellington (SG), Joe Johnson (SF), Thaddeus Young (PF), Brook Lopez (C)
Final thoughts
Portland is starting a three-game homestand tonight after getting back-to-back impressive home wins against the Thunder and Jazz while the Nets are coming off a big win over the Knicks. Something’s gotta give on Friday night, and if the Nets aren’t able to control Lillard and McCollum’s perimeter games, they’ll have a slim chance at winning this one.
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