----- CJ McCollum scores 40 points as the Portland Trail Blazers improved their record to 8-3 with a 118-103 Tuesday night at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.
It finally happened on Tuesday night. CJ McCollum rediscovered his shooting touch after spending extra time at practice focusing on his shot and the result was profitable for the Blazers. McCollum scored 40 points leading Portland to a 118-103 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
"Really good win against a really good team," Blazers coach Terry Stotts said after the game. "I'm really proud of the way we played. Obviously CJ was outstanding offensively."
The Blazers once again had great balance on offense. Aside from CJ, Evan Turner led the bench with 16 points and 11 boards and Jusuf Nurkic added 12 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. The Blazers shot 52.7% from the floor including 17-of-43 from three-point range.
Portland (8-3) also did a solid job against one of the best offensive teams in the league. The Bucks entered the night with the second-best offense in the league behind Golden State at 121.9 points per game, but were held to just 103 points by an aggressive defense. Al-Farouq Aminu did a solid job defending Giannis Antetokounmpo holding him to just 23 points on the night.
This was a great win for Portland. With their length and athleticism, Milwaukee is a bad match up. The Blazers played their best game of the season committing just 12 turnovers, attacking the paint off the bounce, and moving the ball on offense. The Blazers will now focus on the Clippers and Celtics to close out the week before they begin a six-game road trip.
Up Next- The Trail Blazers will host the Los Angeles Clippers Thursday night at Moda Center. Game is scheduled to tip off at 7:00 PM.
Chad's Take- This was a nice win against a very formidable opponent in the Milwaukee Bucks. The Blazers started strong and keep the energy throughout the evening.