----- CJ McCollum scored 23 points and seven Blazers scored in double-figures as the Portland Trail Blazers improved to 3-0 on their four-game road trip with a 122-117 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
Balance was the word in Tampa!
The Portland Trail Blazers had seven-players score in double-figures as they improved to 28-18 on the season with a 122-117 victory over the Toronto Raptors Sunday evening at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. It is the first time on the season that the Blazers have gone 10-games above .500.
CJ McCollum scored a team-high 23 points and added seven rebounds and five assists and Damian Lillard returned to the lineup after missing Friday's game in Orlando (left knee) and scored 22 points.
Portland got 41-points from their bench. Derrick Jones Jr. was moved to the bench in favor of Norman Powell, he scored 16 points. Enes Kanter finished with 10 points and eight rebounds and Carmelo Anthony scored 10 points.
The Trail Blazers trailed 74-68 at halftime but took control of the game in the third quarter with their defense holding the Raptors to just 10 points on 4-of-22 shooting and 0-for-13 from three-point range.
Pascal Siakam led Toronto (18-28) with 26 points and eight rebounds and Fred VanVleet scored 20 points and dished out eight assists.
The Raptors pulled to within one at 111-110 with 2:28 remaining in the game on a VanVleet three-pointer but McCollum responded with seven-straight points to put the game away.
Up Next- The Portland Trail Blazers will finish up their four-game road trip Wednesday in Detroit against the Pistons. The game is scheduled to tip off at 4:00 PM.
Chad's Take- Blazers held the Raptors to 10 points in the third quarter and still gave up 117 points. More work needed on defense.