Kawhi’s Game-Winner Downs Blazers 119-117

Down 16 in the third? Didn’t matter. Down three with under 20 seconds left? Didn’t stop Portland. Unfortunately, the comeback fell short after Kawhi Leonard’s shot dropped in with 1.5 seconds left to push Toronto to a W, 119-117.

The Blazers could have given up down 90-74 with 3:31 in the third quarter. They didn’t. Portland rode a 31-13 run to go up 105-103.

C.J. McCollum carried the team for most of the game and cashed in a team-high 35 points. Damian Lillard scored 17 of his 24 points in second half including 13 in the fourth quarter.

The Raptors started the final frame shooting 0-for-9 (scoring two points on free throws), but Portland could only get within one point, 95-94, during that stretch.

Kawhi Leonard scored half (13-of-26) of Toronto’s fourth quarter scoring, including the aforementioned game-winner.

Unfortunately for the Blazers, Jusuf Nurkic got into foul trouble early with three in the first half. With Enes Kanter stuck in the states, Portland was forced to rely on Meyers Leonard and Zach Collins off the bench.

Leonard and Collins combined to score two points in 29 minutes. Kanter may not have won the game for Portland, but his absence was felt.

The Blazers road trip continues Sunday morning against Charlotte with a 10 a.m. tip-off.

Notes:

• Six players scored at least 10 points for Portland; McCollum (35), Lillard (24), Moe Harkless (11), Jusuf Nurkic (10), Al-Farouq Aminu (10), and (off the bench) Jake Layman (13).
• Blazers whistled for 25 fouls, Raptors just 17.
• Portland outrebounded Toronto 42-32 and 9-2 in offensive boards.
• Portland’s five-game winning streak was snapped with the loss, including 4-0 on the road since the All-Star Break.