Road Takes: Nets start out scorching but cool off as Blazers win 7th in a row

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The Brooklyn Nets started off the game on fire especially from the midrange where they went 10-for-10. They were sparked by Kevin Garnett hitting his first six shots and scored 40 points in the first quarter. Portland scored 31 but somehow found themselves down by nine.

The defense has been a point of focus and the Blazers allowing the most attempts at the rim has been problematic. But, let’s be clear, they didn’t give up 40 points because they weren’t defending the rim. They gave up 40 points because Brooklyn made a bunch of shots that they are okay with giving up.

The next three quarters happened and the Nets went 17-66 from the field.

Which led to this sad reaction from Jason Kidd. And apparently the Nets locker room was closed to the media:

KG did not do his usual post-game presser. Locker room closed off to media. Do the math. #Nets

— The Brooklyn Game (@TheBKGame) November 19, 2013

The Blazers continued to play well offensively and Wesley Matthews still looks like he’s having an out-of-body experience as he continues to not be able to miss from three, going five of six from deep and scoring 24 points.

LaMarcus Aldridge turned in a ho-hum 27 points and eight rebounds while Damian Lillard had 19 points and nine assists.

Once again, the bench was good as Thomas Robinson and Mo Williams both had solid outings in support. Robinson was especially effective in the second half as he finished with nine points and seven rebounds in 12:59.

As has been a trend on this trip so far, the Blazers closed the game with their small line-up of Williams, Lillard, Matthews, Batum and Aldridge. The Blazers dodged a couple of open threes missed by the Nets that could have made things tight again as they failed to make a field goal in the game’s final 7:11.

As has been the case this road trip, the Blazers continued to take care of business. The Nets put an early scare into them but they stuck to the process and Brooklyn cooled off considerably. It also helps when the team’s best offensive player and anchor of their defense, Brook Lopez isn’t playing. Shaun Livingston had a great game with 23 points filling in for the injured Deron Williams.

The Blazers now are tied with San Antonio and Indiana for the most wins in the NBA and they’re now 5-1 on the road. Offensively, they’ve done it together and the bench continues to be steady. The defense was better tonight than yesterday in Toronto.

They now have an opportunity to sweep the road trip against a Bucks team without their defensive anchor Larry Sanders.

Should they get the win in Milwaukee, they’ll be coming back to the Northwest riding an eight-game winning streak with six out of their next nine games coming at the Moda Center.

Blazers fans, how does 9-2, 5-1 on the road and a chance to win eight in a row sound to you?