Nurkic ejected, Trail Blazers can’t hit big shot in loss to Miami

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, January 5, 2022

By Pamplin Media Group

Portland Trail Blazers' Jusuf Nurkic dunks the ball against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, at the Moda Center., Portland Tribune - Sports First-year Blazer Larry Nance Jr. made his impact known in the Portland's 112-107 win over the Chicago Bulls. Portland Trail Blazers comeback to beat Bulls behind Larry Nance

With no Damian Lillard on Wednesday night, the Portland Trail Blazers couldn’t hit the big shot in the Moda Center.

The visiting Miami Heat took the lead early in the first quarter after a 5-3 Portland lead, and never really gave it back despite the Blazers having plenty of chances in the 115-109 loss.

Scores of 74-71 and 91-90 stayed on the scoreboard for multiple minutes with the Heat going cold from deep. But Portland couldn’t get a shot to take the lead. The Blazers did tie the game at 90 in the fourth, but couldn’t get over the hill.

Down 110-100 with less than two minutes to go in the game, a Blazers run was interrupted when a scuffle between Jusuf Nurkic and Tyler Herro occurred.

Nurkic sent Herro to the floor on a clean, blind side screen. Herro got off the floor and pushed Nurkic in the back, leading the Blazers center to take a swipe at Herro that ended up more as a slap to the face than a punch. Benches started to clear before the confrontation was settled quickly by separating the two.

Both Nurkic and Herro were ejected as the Blazers inched to within five of the Heat but didn’t get many missed free throws to pull off the comeback.

Lillard missed the game and will miss at least the next two games. The team announced Wednesday that he is having his nagging abdominal injury reevaluated this week.

Despite Lillard being out, the Blazers had most of their roster back from COVID protocols with only Cody Zeller still out. CJ McCollum was also out, still recovering from his collapsed lung.

The Heat were missing stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, both physical injuries and not COVID related. Miami didn’t need them though as starting guard Max Strus went off for 25 points, most of which came on his 7 for 13 night from 3-point range.

Miami as a team shot well, shooting 45.1 percent from the floor and 46.3 percent from deep. Every player hit at least one 3-pointer except backup forward Chris Silva.

Anfernee Simons got hot in the third quarter with 20 points to keep Portland in it and continue his trend after putting up 43 against Atlanta back on Monday. He finished with a game-high 28 points on five made 3-pointers.

Norman Powell had 26 on 7 for 18 shooting from the floor and Nurkic had 14 points and 13 rebounds before his ejection.

Those big nights weren’t enough to get Portland it’s 15th win though as it fell to 14-23 on the season, now 12-10 at home and still looking from the outside of even the Western Conference play-in tournament.

Up next will be Cleveland at the Moda Center and the Blazers might be down one more starter as well in Larry Nance Jr., who left in the third quarter and didn’t return with what the team deemed a right knee injury after he jumped for a layup attempt with no contact.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m Friday.

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