Nets moved a loss closer to the record for the NBA's worst start to a
season on Wednesday night when they dropped their 15th straight game,
93-83 to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Greg Oden continued a recent run of
strong play with 18 points and eight rebounds for the Blazers, who have
won 10 of their last 12. Portland has won six straight at home.
The NBA record is 17 straight losses
to start a season, set by the 1988-89 expansion Miami Heat and matched
by the Los Angeles Clippers in the lockout-shortened 1999 season.
New Jersey equaled the second-longest
skid in franchise history and is one away from the 16 straight losses
in early 1978 that is the record. The Nets travel next to Sacramento
for a game against the Kings on Friday before wrapping up their
four-game road trip at the Lakers on Sunday.
Brook Lopez had a career-high 32
points and added 14 rebounds for the Nets, who tied it at 54 early in
the second half but ultimately couldn't keep up with Portland.
Brandon Roy had 13 points and Rudy Fernandez added 12 — all 3-pointers — for the Blazers.
The Nets were coming off a 101-87
loss to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night. Nets coach Lawrence Frank
called his team's performance "unacceptable" and said he was
"embarrassed."
Frank did not start Devin Harris,
playing his third game back after missing 10 games because of a groin
injury, or Courtney Lee, playing his second game back after missing
seven games with a groin injury.
Harris came in with 3:25 left in the first quarter. Lee followed in the period.
The Blazers began to pull away late
in the second quarter, when Martell Webster's 3-pointer made it 43-33.
Portland extended the lead with LaMarcus Aldridge's jumper.
New Jersey closed to 49-44 at the break. Lopez led all players with 16 points at the half.
The Nets pulled within 54-52 on
Lopez's jumper, then tied it on Rafer Alston's layup, before Joel
Przybilla responded with a dunk and Roy added a fadeaway jumper.
Fernandez extended the lead to 69-59
early in the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer. He made another one from
29 feet that made it 72-61 and the rout was on.
Portland was coming off a 122-98
victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday. Oden tied his career high
with 24 points and matched a season high with 12 rebounds.
In his last four games, Oden has hit 27 of 36 shots from the floor.
Notes
The Blazers have a three-game
winning streak over the Nets. … Former Oregon quarterback Joey
Harrington was at the game. … The fans were prepared for the Nets.
One held a sign that said: "The NBA, where 0-15 happens."