Grant scores 36, Blazers rout Pistons in Payton’s debut – KTVZ

By ERIK GARCÍA GUNDERSEN
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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Jerami Grant scored 36 factors in opposition to his former staff, Anfernee Simons added 30 and the Portland Path Blazers beat the Detroit Pistons 135-106 on Monday night time.

Gary Payton II performed 14 minutes in his Portland debut, ending with seven factors, 4 assists and two steals. The son of Corridor of Fame guard Gary Payton missed the primary 35 video games this season following surgical procedure for a core muscle harm. He signed with the Path Blazers as a free agent after profitable an NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors final June.

Grant was 12 for 17 from the sphere, together with 5 of 8 from 3-point vary, and Payton’s debut buoyed a Blazers staff that had misplaced 4 of 5.

Damian Lillard had 19 factors, 10 assists and 4 steals.

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 21 factors to guide Detroit, and Alec Burks added 19 off the bench.

Like his father, Payton attended Oregon State. He entered to an ovation and linked on his first shot — a 3-pointer from the left nook. To begin the second quarter, Payton threw a lob to Shaedon Sharpe for an alley-oop. Late within the third, Payton dove on a unfastened ball, which led to Portland free throws and raucous cheers from the gang because the Blazers prolonged their lead.

And at last, to start out the fourth interval, Payton stole an inbounds cross and scored to offer Portland a 104-82 cushion. The Blazers led by as many as 34.

Portland shot 57% from the sphere and went 14 for 31 (45%) from 3-point distance, whereas the Pistons have been 6 of 18.

With heart Jusuf Nurkic in early foul hassle, substitute Drew Eubanks completed with 10 factors and 10 rebounds for the Blazers. They led 62-51 at halftime and pushed the margin to 22 within the third quarter.

Nurkic had three factors and two rebounds in 14 minutes. After going to the bench, he was dominated out for the rest of the sport on account of an sickness that saved him out of Portland’s earlier sport.

WAITING GAME

The Path Blazers have been thrilled to lastly have Payton out there.

“It’s been a troublesome little rehab for him, so I do know he’s in all probability feeling actually good about it,” coach Chauncey Billups stated. “All of us, coaches, gamers, everyone within the group is joyful to have him. He’s our huge free-agent acquisition this yr.”

UP NEXT

Pistons: Go to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night time.

Path Blazers: Go to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night time.

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Extra AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports