The Portland Trail Blazers played one of their best defensive games of the season on Friday night, defeating the Indiana Pacers 118-115. It was a team-wide victory, buoyed by a small core of starters and a key contribution or two off the bench.
Jerami Grant led Portland with 37 points on 14-28 shooting, a feat made even more impressive by his opposition: debuting All-Star forward Pascal Siakam. Siakam didn’t guard Grant all night, but Jerami held his own when he was facing down the new apple of Indiana’s eye.
Deandre Ayton returned for the Blazers in this game after missing 12 games due to tendinitis of the knee and ice follies.