Dec

18

Bayless’ Late Free Throws Vault Trail Blazers Past Suns 105-102

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NBA Game Recap 

Jerryd Bayless

One of the more overlooked players on the Portland Trail Blazers these days is Jerryd Bayless. But then again, with the point guard surplus on the team (Andre Miller and Steve Blake), Bayless’ absence has been conspicuous. During Thursday night’s game between the Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns, Bayless may have perhaps earned some minutes of the aforementioned duo as he scored 29 points while making three free throws late in the game, helping Portland get past Phoenix 105-102 at the Rose Garden.

Grant Hill had 13 points in the first quarter while former Blazer Channing Frye had three 3-pointers in the second quarter as the Suns built an 11-point lead at 55-44 and would go into halftime up by seven. Phoenix would extend their advantage to 15 in the third quarter courtesy of a Steve Nash jumper and an Alonzo Tucker layup.

Blake’s trey cut the lead to 86-81 with 8:47 left in the game; Bayless would score Portland’s next eight points and then converted a layup to give the Blazers a 94-92 lead with 3:43 remaining. Nash would respond with consecutive three-pointers to put the Suns to within 102-100 with 33.8 seconds left in the period. Bayless made a pair of free throws with 8.9 seconds remaining to give Portland a 104-100 lead; Nash’s driving layup put Phoenix to within two then Bayless was fouled with 4 seconds remaining but made just one of 2 free throws. The Suns had a chance to tie the game, but Nash’s off-balance jumper bounced off the rim, sealing the victory for the Trail Blazers.

Bayless led all Blazers scorers as he scored a career-high 29 points from off the bench with 3 rebounds and 4 assists while Brandon Roy added 27 with 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals; LaMarcus Aldridge and Martell Webster chipped in 15 each – with Aldridge grabbing 7 rebounds, dishing out 2 assists along with a steal while Webster grabbed 7 boards, dished out an assist along with 2 steals and a block.

The Suns were led by Amare Stoudemire with 27 points, 11 rebounds, an assist and a block while Hill added 20 with 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals; Frye poured in 17 (including 5 three-pointers) with 6 rebounds, 2 assists and a block while Nash scored 16 with 5 rebounds, 13 assists and 2 steals.

Portland (16-11) plays again on Saturday when they go on the road to Orlando and face the Magic while Phoenix (17-9) returns home to host the Washington Wizards – also on Saturday night.


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