Blazers trying to give fans some hope

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In the days following a horrendous outlay of talent, the Portland Trail Blazers turned out something of a stunning run of games that may have given a few fans hope for something of a future for the team.

Portland got thumped at home by Oklahoma City, 134-91 (43 points, ouch!) on Nov. 19, the seventh loss in an eight-game streak that left the team at 3-10 overall. OKC's bench scored 70 points in the game.

Just three days later, though, following a loss to Phoenix in the NBA Tournament, the Blazers beat Utah 121-115 at home, which started a run of games that may have pumped up the most hardcore of fans.

Portland went 2-2 to start a five-game road trip, and was just a few possessions away from making that 4-0 as one of the losses included blowing a 26-point lead, and the other was in overtime.

In the road-trip opener, the Blazers led Milwaukee by as many as 26 early in the third quarter before the Bucks seemingly came to their senses and rallied for a 108-102 victory.

The Blazers got 22 points from Jerami Grant and 14 points and 13 rebounds from Deandre Ayton, but Milwaukee stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lilliard - in his first game against his former team - combined for 64 points as that team improved to 12-5.

Portland then beat Indiana, 114-110, and Cleveland, 103-95, before losing at Utah 118-113 in overtime on Friday.

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