NEW YORK — Not all victories are going to look pretty at the beginning, but for the Nets, it’s how you finish, not how you start.
Sunday’s 111-97 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers was ugly at the beginning. The Trail Blazers exposed some of Brooklyn’s weaknesses — rebounding and defense — for the first three quarters.
And then the Nets held their opponent to just 17 fourth-quarter points to pull away for the win.
The Nets can’t be picky with how their wins align. Their victory over the shorthanded Trail Blazers moves them one game closer to an even record, with the lottery-destined Orlando Magic waiting in the second leg of a back-to-back on Monday.
It sets the table for the team to start its seven-game home stand with two straight victories — maybe even three if they can protect horn court against the Toronto Raptors the following game.
Yet there were moments where victory didn’t seem certain, and to be clear, a loss against a Trail Blazers team without superstar point guard Damian Lillard would have underscored some of the poor performances the Nets have put forth in recent outings.
The Trail Blazers played through Jusuf Nurkic, the brute force big man who wreaked havoc on the glass and finished with 14 rebounds. Nurkic only finished with 17 points but could have had more if he played more aggressive. The Trail Blazers outrebounded the Nets, 42-38, including 11-4 on the offensive glass. They also got 29 points from Jerami Grant.
Things didn’t fall in place for Brooklyn until the fourth quarter.
Fourth quarters have been particularly tricky for the Nets. In the loss to the Pacers, they lost the fourth quarter, 40-23.
This time, the defense showed up, as did timely shot making. Seth Curry erupted for 29 points off the bench and hit seven threes. Kevin Durant led all scorers with 31 points, and Kyrie Irving scored 22 on 8-of-17 shooting from the field.
The Nets are now just one game below .500 and have an opportunity to climb the standings with six more games at home.
They will reach even if they can defeat a young Orlando Magic team on Monday, though the Nets have losses to lesser opponents that suggest no team is one that can be overlooked.
