'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Portland Trail Blazers traveled to Charlotte and defeated the Hornets on their home court 118-108. Portland was able to weather the many storms Charlotte threw at them to come out with a double-digit win. Here are some of my thoughts on the game and things each team needs to continue to do moving forward:
Hornets' Bench Production
The Hornets got great contributions from their bench today and they will need that to continue the rest of the season if they want to make the playoffs. The 57 bench points Charlotte got kept them in the game longer than they otherwise should have been.
Jeremy Lamb should be a dark horse candidate for the sixth man of the year and showed why today. He sparked a nice rally for the Hornets early in the game when Portland got up by 15 in the 1st quarter. Lamb had 21 points in the first half but finished with just 23.
Frank Kaminsky and Tony Parker also provided excellent play off the bench for the Hornets who, coming into the game, were ranked seventh in bench scoring. Parker had 14 points and 5 assists in 14 minutes and Kaminsky added 18 points and 7 rebounds in 28 minutes.
Kemba Walker struggled to get going this game and it was a good sign for the Hornets to see the bench pick him up a little and do a little more of the scoring. Even though the Hornets lost, the bench production needs to continue for them.
Playing through Nurkic
A key factor for the Blazers' success this season has been the play of Jusuf Nurkic who had a stellar game in Charlotte with 26 points, 15 rebounds and 6 assists.
Nurkic is an old school big that plays from his back to the basket most of the time but is effective. Nurkic is able to facilitate the offense from the center spot and is one of the better passing big men in the NBA.
Nurkic looks like he is lumbering up and down the court sometimes but he is a nice two-way player. Earlier this year against Sacramento, Nurkic put together a five by five game meaning he had at least five points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and steals.
Nurkic is one of the more underrated bigs in the game but someone the Blazers can play through and be effective.
The Rodney Hood resurgence
Rodney Hood came out firing in the second half and singlehandedly won the game for the Blazers. Hood led the Blazers in scoring with 27 points, all of which came in the second half, including 21 in the fourth quarter which is his career high for a quarter.
Hood went on a streak in which he scored 20 of Portland's last 22. Hood has not had many moments like this since being traded from Utah last trade deadline. It was nice to see the old Hood from Utah that everyone was so high on a few seasons ago. Portland will need Hood to play like he is capable of to make a deep run in the playoffs this year
