The dress rehearsals are through and the curtain raises on the 2016-17 NBA season Tuesday evening as the Portland Trail Blazers (0-0) welcome the Northwest Division rival Utah Jazz (0-0) to Moda Center. Portland has won an NBA-record 15-straight home openers dating back to the 2001-02 season.
“This is what we’ve been waiting for, man,” Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless said of the anticipation for Opening Night. “Preseason and stuff is cool, but it’s a lot easier to get up for the first real game.”
Point guard Damian Lillard led the Blazers through the preseason with 19.