With a successful free throw Jeremy Grant almost ruined everything…

There are 1.4 seconds left to play in the MODA Center. While we thought we were heading straight for overtime in between Blazers and Nuggets, the referees report contact Jerami Grant. The footage backs up their decision, and here’s the Portland winger on the penalty line. At 107-107, his choice is clear: punt first and throw second so the Nuggets don’t have time to shoot. Facing his old formation, he sets up the first and throws a brick at the second. Except it fits with the board!

Result: The Nuggets have a chance to make a layup and it’s enough for Aaron Gordon to find Nikola Jokic at the opposing free throw line for a shot at the horn. The ball hits the circle and then goes out. The Blazers rush, laughing, to Jerami Grant who gives them the win and at the same time scares them a lot. “First of all, it’s special because we won” responds Danny Avdija. “Then Jeremy was huge, he was making free throws, he was solid in the money. I was just happy, happy we won.”

For the young Blazers, this NBA Cup is an opportunity to win something and gain confidence against the big guns. “There’s a big prize at stake and we know our group is tough, with a lot of teams we want to beat and we think we can compete with.” Chris Murray explained. “This competition gives a different intensity to games like this. These are very competitive matches.”

“group of death”

In group C of this NBA Cup, the Blazers will fight with the Nuggets, but also the Warriors, Spurs and Rockets! “This name is funny, but it is deserved” continues Chris Murray when we talk to him about the “group of death”. “It’s great to have the opportunity to play the top four teams in the league in my opinion. It’s a huge win to get this first win. We really want to put Portland on the map this season, and I think we showed that tonight.”

What Danny Avdija remembers is that the Blazers have two wins in the final seconds, and that was educational.

“We feel more confident. Now we have more experience, we know each other better, we know how to manage at the end of matches. We are still a young team, so it is not easy. We will not be perfect every time — we will lose something, we will win something — but we are progressing, progressing and that is what is important. »

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