The Portland Trail Blazers and Brooklyn Nets meet Monday night at the Barclays Center. Portland won the last meeting between the two teams back in mid-November, 97-87, but both will feature different rotations as injuries have taken their toll on the two franchises since.
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Brooklyn has lost 10 of its last 12 games. But, even though the Nets are eight-games under .500, they sit just 1/2-games out of the playoff race in the Eastern Conference. The Nets' most recent defeat came Saturday, 108-73, against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City. It was the final game of a three-game trip. The Nets have held eight consecutive opponents below 100 points, which is tied for the third-longest streak in the NBA this season.
The Nets have held 28 teams below 100 points this season -- tied with the Blazers and Atlanta Hawks for the most in the league this season. Plumlee has started the last 24 games and has averaged 14.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks during the stretch. ... The Nets are 16-5 this season when they score 95 or more points and 10-3 when they hold their opponent under 95 points. ... Brooklyn is 8-14 at home. Rookie Cory Jefferson, the last pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, has played 21 games this season, including one start. It's the fourth-most games played by the final pick of the draft since 2000 and most since Robert Sacre played in 32 in 2012-13. ... The Nets had a season-high nine blocks in the loss to the Jazz.
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This is the first game of a four-game East Coast trip for the Blazers, who are 18-3 against the East and 12-8 on the road this season. In an emotional and dramatic matchup at the Moda Center on Saturday night, the Blazers defeated the Washington Wizards 103-96. Two days after announcing he would undergo surgery on his left thumb, Aldridge reversed course and decided to delay the procedure and play. He finished with 26 points and nine rebounds, leading the Blazers to a come-from-behind win.
The Blazers are 20-1 this season when they lead after three quarters. ... In the win over the Wizards, the Blazers overcame a 14-point deficit. It was the 13th time this season the Blazers have overcome a 10-point deficit to win, the most in the NBA.
Matthews leads the NBA in three-point makes (138) and Lillard ranks fifth (120). The Blazers rank fifth in the league in points allowed (97.2 per game) and fourth in field goal defense (43.4 percent).
The Blazers may be too hurt to put the Nets away early, but they should be capable of salting away another game against a sub-.500 opponent. Brooklyn has lost by a combined 74 points in the team's last two games against the Clippers and Jazz, and Portland should be able to take advantage of the Nets' poor scoring late in games while getting points from Aldridge, Lillard and Matthews down the stretch.
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