The Portland Trail Blazers are a young, rebuilding team not counting on many wins this season. But even by that low standard, the first three games of 2024 made for a disheartening stretch of basketball in Rip City.
The Trail Blazers faded against the Phoenix Suns on Monday for a 109-88 loss; got rocked 126-97 by Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday; and were absolutely demoralized against a Luka-less Mavs team on Friday, losing 139-103.
Then just as it seemed the sky was falling, the Trail Blazers saved their dignity this afternoon with a hard-earned 134-127 overtime victory against the struggling Brooklyn Nets.