PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Cam Johnson returned from a five-game absence with a sprained right ankle and scored 24 points in Brooklyn Nets“132-114 victory against the Portland Trail Blazers, Tuesday night.
Keon Johnson And Noah Clowney each added 20 for the Nets, who ended a five-game losing streak.
Scoot Henderson had a career-high 39 points, including eight 3-pointers, for the Blazers.
Net guards Ben Simmons, whose status was uncertain due to a lower back injury and left knee soreness, started and finished with five points, 11 assists and nine rebounds. He will not participate in Wednesday’s game against the Clippers.
Blazers rookie Donovan Clingan was hit in the face as he fell at the end of the first quarter and headed to the locker room. He returned, but left the game again in the final moments after another difficult fall.
The Nets led by 16 points in the first half, but Portland cut the lead to 66-61 at halftime. Brooklyn led the rest of the way.
Takeaways
Nets: D’Angelo Russell (shin) also played, but the Nets were without Nicholas Claxton due to hamstring pain.
Trail Blazers: The Blazers were without forward Deni Avdija after he twisted his ankle during practice Monday. … Toumani Camara scored a career-high 23 points.
Key moment
The Blazers pulled within 112-103 on Camara’s basket with 5:28 to play, but Russell hit a pair of free throws and added a deep 3-pointer to extend Brooklyn’s lead. Moments later, Keon Johnson’s 3 with 3:44 left made the score 120-105 and all but sealed the victory.
Key statistic
Henderson had 17 points in the first quarter alone, including four 3-pointers. He made his first eight shots from the field and surpassed his season high with 25 points for Portland at halftime.
To be continued
The Nets visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. The Trail Blazers host the Clippers on Thursday.
