EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The Portland Trail
Blazers look to bounce back from their first loss of the season
Tuesday when they face the New Jersey Nets at Continental
Airlines Arena.
After opening the season with consecutive wins, the Trail
Blazers began their three-game road trip with a 101-97 loss at
Toronto on Sunday. Portland held a two-point lead with one
minute remaining, but Jalen Rose made a layup to tie it and
Vince Carter hit a fadeaway 3-pointer with 4.8 seconds remaining
to give Toronto the win.
Zach Randolph, who missed the team's flight to Toronto, scored
33 points and pulled down 15 rebounds in the loss. In
Portland's two victories over New Jersey last season, Randolph
averaged a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
The Nets are coming off a loss as well. Playing one day after a
thrilling double-overtime win over the Chicago Bulls, New
Jersey was routed by the Phoenix Suns, 112-80, on Saturday.
Richard Jefferson scored 24 points to lead the team in scoring
for the third consecutive game but did not get much support.
Meanwhile, the Suns used a balanced attack to shoot 57.4 percent
(39-of-68). It was the second time that the Nets have allowed
an opponent to shoot over 50 percent.
Portland was one of only two teams that shot over 50 percent for
the season against New Jersey in 2003-04.




