Hornets vs. Blazers: Play-by-play, highlights and reactions

The Charlotte Hornets (16-15) play against the Portland Trail Blazers (18-18) at Moda Center

Game Time: 10:00 PM EST on Friday December 17, 2021

Charlotte Hornets 116, Portland Trail Blazers 125 (Final)

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
Babo!
@Jusuf Nurkic finds @Damian Lillard for tonight’s @Moda_Health Assist of the Night 🎯 pic.twitter.com/6j55g1CRQm – 2:45 AM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
💯 pic.twitter.com/1GXRHvmvor – 2:21 AM Kelly Iko @KellyIkoNBA
Rockets hopeful of a Kevin Porter Jr. return to the lineup before the end of the month, sources tell @TheAthletic. Tentative target date is 12/27 vs. Charlotte. Porter has missed Houston’s last 7 games with a left thigh injury. – 2:04 AM Charlotte Hornets @hornets
“It’s a long season. We can’t panic here, but we have guys we can go to who we trust on the bench… We’re going to need that effort from the bench as we move into our next game.” – James Borrego
#AllFly | @HusqvarnaUSA – 1:14 AM Sean Highkin @highkin
Very interesting response from Damian Lillard when asked by @Casey Holdahl why he seemed upset in his postgame press conference after a win and season-best performance. pic.twitter.com/jmw2Cre5Xp – 1:08 AM Charlotte Hornets @hornets
14 PTS and a career-high 11 AST from our guy @Miles Bridges!
Get 50% off @yourlocaldomino tomorrow with code HORNETS. pic.twitter.com/pF35Lh9q1Z – 1:07 AM Sean Highkin @highkin
Damian Lillard: “When you lose so many in a row, it’s not as fun to be at practice and watch film and you keep coming up short. We needed to get this one. … Dig ourselves out of this hole that we’re in. Tonight is a good start.” – 12:56 AM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
Felt good to get that win 🎥 pic.twitter.com/uND8zlfW52 – 12:56 AM Trendon Watford @trendonw
good win fellas .. 💪🏽🔥❤️ – 12:51 AM Charlotte Hornets @hornets
#AllFly | @Lowes pic.twitter.com/kbLGvhSgrY – 12:41 AM Dane Moore @DaneMooreNBA
Timberwolves absolutely dominate the Lakers (again)
Wolves 110, Lakers 92
On tonight’s show:
– KAT beats Nurkic, then Jokic, now Davis
– The still understated value of Vanderbilt
– DLo stirrin the drink
– Finch’s growing credibility
– Success with Ant in the protocols – 12:41 AM Charlotte Hornets @hornets
Melo: 27 PTS, 5 AST
Kelly: 18 PTS, 4 REB
PJ: 16 PTS, 5 REB
Miles: 14 PTS, 11 AST, 6 REB
Cody: 14 PTS, 5 REB
#AllFly | @drpepper pic.twitter.com/BvOsHuwInx – 12:33 AM Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
The Grizzlies take care of business yet again. They are now 10-1 in their last 11, and will play their next two games at home against Portland and Oklahoma City.
Destruction tour right now. – 12:31 AM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
Final 📊
Dame: 43p/8a/4r
Ben: 28p/2r/2s
Norm: 14p/5a/3r
Larry: 10p/7r
Nurk: 10p/4r/2a
Ant: 8p/2a
RoCo: 7p/10r/3a/2s/2b
Nas: 3p/8r/6a/3b
Trendon: 2p/3r – 12:26 AM Charlotte Hornets @hornets
RARE. 🛸
#AllFly | @HusqvarnaUSA pic.twitter.com/z1zQoBiBm7 – 12:26 AM StatMuse @statmuse
40-point games in Blazers history:
40 — Damian Lillard
38 — The next 3 players combined pic.twitter.com/9FsB2HkPi4 – 12:24 AM Portland Trail Blazers PR @TrailBlazersPR
Final Box Score: Trail Blazers 125, Hornets 116
statsdmz.nba.com/pdfs/20211217/… – 12:22 AM Jay Allen @PDXjay
Ben McLemore ties his career-high with eight 3-pointers tonight. Finished with 28 points which is tied for the 2nd-most points in a game in his career. #RipCity – 12:22 AM StatMuse @statmuse
Dame best game of the season:
43 PTS
8 AST
12-19 FG
6-11 3P
13-14 FT
Forty three points on 19 shots. pic.twitter.com/z1uwxucEyy – 12:21 AM Rod Boone @rodboone
Final: Trail Blazers 125, #Hornets 116
LaMelo 27 pts, 5 rebs, 4 asts
Kelly Oubre 18 pts
PJ Washington 16 pts, 5 rebs
Miles Bridges 14 pts, 11 asts
Up next: at Phoenix on Sunday – 12:21 AM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
Ending our homestand with a W!
#RipCity pic.twitter.com/xOkQcEjgQ2 – 12:20 AM Jason Quick @jwquick
Blazers get first win in December – 125-116 over Charlotte as Damian Lillard was dominant with 43 points and 8 assists and Ben McLemore hit 8 3s and scored 28 off the bench. Seven-game losing streak is over. Portland moves to 12-18. – 12:20 AM Charlotte Hornets @hornets
#AllFly pic.twitter.com/n3xPcU5IwJ – 12:20 AM Jamie Hudson @JamieHudson_
Blazers beat Hornets, 125-116. Damian Lillard finishes with a season-high 43 on 12-19 shooting #RipCity pic.twitter.com/f3reNPuA6s – 12:20 AM Casey Holdahl @CHold
Blazers 125, Hornets 116: FINAL. Portland breaks 7-game losing streak. 43 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds for @Damian Lillard. 28 points, 2 rebounds for @Ben McLemore. 10 points, 7 rebounds for @Larry Nance Jr. 10 points, 4 rebounds for @Jusuf Nurkic. – 12:20 AM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
BLAZERS WIN!
BLAZERS WIN! pic.twitter.com/PI9OdZjel7 – 12:19 AM Sean Highkin @highkin
Two Blazers players are untouchable at the deadline: Dame and Ben McLemore. – 12:17 AM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
B
E
N
N
Y
B
U
C
K
E
T
S – 12:15 AM Sean Highkin @highkin
Are the Blazers going to blow this? – 12:15 AM Casey Holdahl @CHold
Ball carving the Blazers up in the paint, Portland turning the ball over and it’s a 6-point Portland lead with 1:06 to play. Ho boy. – 12:14 AM Mark Montieth @MarkMontieth
Indiana and Notre Dame play today in the Crossroads Classic. It happens to fall on the 50th anniversary of their game in 1971 when IU defeated the Irish, 94-29. It was a notable game for many reasons, primarily because IU forward John Ritter … – 12:14 AM Sean Highkin @highkin
40 is a season high for Dame. – 12:11 AM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
40 pic.twitter.com/2L6OuL3McN – 12:10 AM Jason Quick @jwquick
Season-high 40 points for Damian Lillard. Previous high was 39 on Nov. 20 vs. Philadelphia. Blazers up 117-104 on Charlotte. – 12:10 AM Casey Holdahl @CHold
Two Blazers have shot free throws tonight: Nassir Little (1-2) and Damian Lillard (10-10) – 12:10 AM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
Ben showing a little bit of everything tonight! pic.twitter.com/u96lOFdNw1 – 12:06 AM Jay Allen @PDXjay
Blazers challenge, but the foul on Nurk is upheld. He fouls out with 6:26 left in the 4th. Third time he’s fouled out this season. – 12:03 AM Charlotte Hornets @hornets
Who else missed watching @Ish Smith hoop? 🤩
#AllFly | @HornetsOnBally pic.twitter.com/CmHEsGSYk8 – 12:02 AM Casey Holdahl @CHold
Nurkic… commits his sixth foul but Billups will call time to trigger a review with the Blazers leading by 14 with 6:26 to play. – 12:01 AM Charlotte Hornets @hornets
pic.twitter.com/uTnwqsZNRB – 11:58 PM Portland Trail Blazers PR @TrailBlazersPR
Third Quarter Box Score: Trail Blazers 103, Hornets 86
statsdmz.nba.com/pdfs/20211217/… – 11:51 PM Aaron J. Fentress @AaronJFentress
In an ideal world for the Blazers, Lillard would never return to the court tonight. Team is up 103-86 in the fourth. – 11:50 PM The Vertical @YahooSportsNBA
Dame with the HAMMER 🔨💥
pic.twitter.com/M2q4slQxSu – 11:48 PM Charlotte Hornets @hornets
🌅
#AllFly | @AthleticBrewing pic.twitter.com/rh1cankRDT – 11:48 PM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
🔴🔴🔴⚫
#RipCity pic.twitter.com/RcKs8kfC1L – 11:48 PM Casey Holdahl @CHold
Blazers 103, Hornets 86: end of third quarter. 36 points, 7 assists for @Damian Lillard. 20 points for @Ben McLemore. 10 points, 3 rebounds for @Jusuf Nurkic. 7 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists for @Robert Covington. – 11:47 PM Rod Boone @rodboone
End of 3rd Q: Trail Blazers 103, #Hornets 86 – 11:47 PM Casey Holdahl @CHold
Larry Nance Portland’s point guard right now despite only having the full use of one hand – 11:44 PM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
Every time Dame dunks, an angel gets its wings pic.twitter.com/rwfaVkPnnk – 11:42 PM Aaron J. Fentress @AaronJFentress
Hornets leading the third quarter 26-18. Blazers’ lead now down to 99-81. 2:46 remaining in the quarter. – 11:41 PM Casey Holdahl @CHold
Hornets go 9-2 in roughly a minute and that’ll draw a timeout from Billups with Portland leading 99-81 with 2:46 to play in the third quarter. – 11:40 PM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
DAME pic.twitter.com/6tb5oRYoMR – 11:39 PM Jamie Hudson @JamieHudson_
DAME ✈️✈️✈️ – 11:37 PM Casey Holdahl @CHold
GOD DAME – 11:37 PM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
🔥🔥🔥 32 & counting 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/8zJnYjTHqJ – 11:33 PM Mike Richman @mikegrich
Nice little reminder of how special Dame can be. 32 on 10-15 in 23 minutes and 0 Fs given. – 11:30 PM Casey Holdahl @CHold
Dame with 10 more points in the first four minutes of the third to give the Blazers their largest lead of the night thus far at 93-64 with 7:52 to play in the quarter. – 11:29 PM Jamie Hudson @JamieHudson_
Dame now with 32 points in 23 mins of work — he’s shootong 10-15 from the field including 6-9 from three. AND he has 7 assists #RipCity – 11:28 PM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
Auto-MAC-ic
@GEICO | #RipCity pic.twitter.com/Ujyw07KQHL – 11:26 PM Dwight Jaynes @dwightjaynes
In case you forgot, when Lillard makes shots it’s a lot easier for everyone else. – 11:23 PM Charlotte Hornets @hornets
3 spins and a bucket 🔄
#AllFly | @Miles Bridges pic.twitter.com/qmzRpkFL9D – 11:17 PM Portland Trail Blazers PR @TrailBlazersPR
Halftime Box Score: Trail Blazers 81, Hornets 55
statsdmz.nba.com/pdfs/20211217/… – 11:12 PM Aaron J. Fentress @AaronJFentress
Blazers lead 81-55 at the half over Charlotte. Portland set a franchise record for made threes in a half with 16 (25 attempts). McLemore went 6 of 8 on threes. Lillard made 4 of 6. Powell hit 3 of 4. #RipCity – 11:10 PM Jason Quick @jwquick
Ben McLemore’s 6 3-pointers in the second quarter was one shy of the Blazers’ franchise record, held by Damian Lillard. McLemore went 6-for-8. Blazers lead Charlotte 81-55 at half. – 11:10 PM Charlotte Hornets @hornets
it’s always darkest before the dawn… 🤷‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/4wkrpy9TEw – 11:08 PM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
New franchise record for a half: 16 threes
#RipCity pic.twitter.com/hOA8Mh4NS8 – 11:08 PM Casey Holdahl @CHold
Blazers 81, Hornets 55: halftime. 22 points, 6 assists for @Damian Lillard. 20 points for @Ben McLemore. 9 points, 3 rebounds/assists for @Norman Powell. 8 points, 1 assist/rebound for @Jusuf Nurkic. POR shooting 64 percent from the field AND three. – 11:08 PM Jamie Hudson @JamieHudson_
Blazers put up 81 in the first half.
81 – 11:08 PM Jay Allen @PDXjay
The #Blazers hit 16 threes in the 1st half. It’s the most they’ve drained in any half in franchise history, breaking the previous mark of 14. #RipCity – 11:08 PM Rod Boone @rodboone
Halftime: Trail Blazers 81, #Hornets 55 – 11:07 PM Jamie Hudson @JamieHudson_
Larry Nance Jr. holding his right wrist and called for a sub – 11:04 PM Jason Quick @jwquick
Blazers record for points in a half is 86, set in January of 1986. Portland has 76 with 2:29 left. Ben McLemore had 6 3-pointers and 20 points. – 11:03 PM Casey Holdahl @CHold
Ben McLemore, the OTHER No. 23 – 11:03 PM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
BEN MCLEMORE APPRECIATION TWEET pic.twitter.com/Lz3xYDtDP3 – 11:01 PM Rod Boone @rodboone
Ben McLemore out here killing the #Hornets from deep. He has 14 points in 7 minutes and is 4 for 6 from 3-point range, puts Trail Blazers up 68-40. – 10:59 PM Jason Quick @jwquick
Blazers taking their frustrations from a month of poor play out on Charlotte, taking 68-40 lead. There’s still 4:54 left in half. Portland shooting 65 percent from field and 3-pointers. – 10:59 PM Jamie Hudson @JamieHudson_
That pump fake tho from Ben McLemore. Blazers now 13-20 from three and lead Charlotte, 68-40 with 4:54 to go in the 2nd q – 10:59 PM Aaron J. Fentress @AaronJFentress
Blazers are unconscious from the field tonight. Lead 68-40 over the Hornets with 4:54 remaining in the 2Q. Blazers are shooting 63.9% from the field and are 13 of 20 on threes. – 10:59 PM Mike Richman @mikegrich
The Blazers were +1 in the Dameless Minutes to open the second quarter. They’ve outscored Charlotte by 27 with Dame on the court … you can do the math – 10:58 PM Casey Holdahl @CHold
Three threes in a minute and a half for @Ben McLemore to give the Blazers a 68-40 lead with 4:54 to play in the first half. – 10:58 PM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
BENNY BUCKETS!!!!!! – 10:57 PM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
Nurk is feastin’
@Jusuf Nurkic | #RipCity pic.twitter.com/7I2PAc7Kgh – 10:53 PM Rod Boone @rodboone
Defense quite an issue for the #Hornets tonight. Portland has 53 points … with 8:26 left in the second quarter. – 10:51 PM Portland Trail Blazers PR @TrailBlazersPR
First Quarter Box Score: Hornets 24, Trail Blazers 41
statsdmz.nba.com/pdfs/20211217/… – 10:47 PM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
Let’s take a moment for this ball movement 😍 pic.twitter.com/f5GdkyGh1b – 10:44 PM Rod Boone @rodboone
LaMelo just passed @RexChapman for 24th on the #Hornets all-time 3-pointers made list with 164. – 10:44 PM Casey Holdahl @CHold
Of course now the real test comes in these no-Lillard minutes – 10:43 PM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
a 17 point first quarter for Dame pic.twitter.com/Jms2eUJDJM – 10:42 PM Jay Allen @PDXjay
#Blazers lead the #Hornets 41-24 after a quarter. It’s the @Portland Trail Blazers highest-scoring first qtr. of the season and second-highest for any qtr. (42 – third qtr, Nov. 6 vs LAL). – 10:42 PM Jason Quick @jwquick
Blazers have probably their best quarter of the season, and not surprisingly, it was Damian Lillard’s best quarter of the season. Portland leads Charlotte 41-24 behind Lillard’s 17 points and 2 assists. His penetration also created a lot of the Blazers’ offense. Good stuff. – 10:41 PM Charlotte Hornets @hornets
well… we have some work to do. pic.twitter.com/btA0VZCyDq – 10:41 PM Aaron J. Fentress @AaronJFentress
Lillard made 4 of 7 shots including 3 of 4 threes to lead the Blazers with 17 points in the first quarter. Blazers up 41-24 on the Hornets. – 10:40 PM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
🔴⚫⚫⚫
#RipCity pic.twitter.com/nJiTpxSqgN – 10:40 PM Casey Holdahl @CHold
Blazers 41, Hornets 24: end of first quarter. 17 points, 2 assists for @Damian Lillard. 6 points, 2 rebounds/assists for @Norman Powell. POR shooting 64 percent, CHA 36 percent. – 10:40 PM Rod Boone @rodboone
End of first Q: Trail Blazers 41, #Hornets 24 – 10:39 PM Casey Holdahl @CHold
I remember thinking “Dame looks pissed off” pregame… – 10:39 PM Sean Highkin @highkin
Dame’s best start in a while — 17 points on 4/6 shooting (3/3 from three) in the first quarter. – 10:39 PM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
This is tough, @Nassir Little pic.twitter.com/kYzbjF4uOb – 10:34 PM Jay Allen @PDXjay
Jusuf Nurkic and Larry Nance Jr. each have two fouls here in the 1st qtr. so Trendon Watford is in at the 4:30 mark. – 10:29 PM Sean Highkin @highkin
New Blazers franchise player Trendon Watford is in. – 10:29 PM Casey Holdahl @CHold
Nance and Nurkic now both with two fouls with 4:30 to play in the first quarter – 10:28 PM Rod Boone @rodboone
First player(s) off the bench tonight: Kelly Oubre and PJ Washington. – 10:24 PM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
Patrick ⭐ with the scoooop
@Larry Nance Jr | #RipCity pic.twitter.com/VyV7VXubS4 – 10:22 PM Charlotte Hornets @hornets
😁👋
Tipoff is coming up in Portland. Tune in at @HornetsOnBally & @wfnz! pic.twitter.com/RjTs2Tox4N – 9:56 PM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
Starting 5 for tonight’s Friday night hoops.
0⃣ @Damian Lillard
2⃣4⃣ @Norman Powell
9⃣ @Nassir Little
1⃣1⃣ @Larry Nance Jr
2⃣7⃣ @bosnianbeast27
#RipCity | @stormxio pic.twitter.com/WJoXnNuWc3 – 9:51 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Nikola Jokic has recorded 10+ rebounds in 12-straight games. He hasn’t had fewer than 10 rebounds since Nov. 14 vs. Portland, when he had 9 in only 28 minutes in a blowout win. – 9:46 PM Charlotte Hornets @hornets
The whole squad is BACK! 🔥
#AllFly | @CrumblCookies pic.twitter.com/iGxtfV1NFl – 9:30 PM Rod Boone @rodboone
Logo LaMelo. pic.twitter.com/n3udy7UX5m – 9:23 PM Jamie Hudson @JamieHudson_
Updated Blazers Injury Report:
Jusuf Nurkic (right finger sprain) is available. Dennis Smith Jr. (right knee inflammation), Tony Snell (personal reasons), CJ McCollum (right lung pneumothorax) and Cody Zeller (right patellar fracture) are out for tonight’s game vs. Charlotte. – 9:02 PM Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers
🏀 #RipCity vs @Charlotte Hornets
⌚️ 7:00PM
📺 @ROOTSPORTS_NW | https://t.co/yBftNpwWBR
📻 @RipCityRadio620 pic.twitter.com/4Ld0e2G41s – 9:00 PM Rod Boone @rodboone
James Borrego said he doesn’t have a set number of minutes in mind for LaMelo tonight.
“He’s 20,” Borrego said. “I’ll be aware. I’m watching him. I don’t want to run him into the ground his first one out. He hasn’t played in a while, so I’ve got to be careful there.” – 8:53 PM Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
#Suns upcoming 11-game stretch in 21 days:
Sun: #Hornets
Tue: at #Lakers
Thu: #Thunder
#XMas: #Warriors
Dec. 27: #Grizzlies
Dec. 29: #Thunder
#NYE: at #Celtics<