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Harris, Nets hold on to beat Blazers

Nov 29, 2010 - 7:16 AM Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Devin Harris made a key three-pointer late in the fourth quarter and finished with 25 points, as the New Jersey Nets held off the Portland Trail Blazers, 98-96, at the Prudential Center.

Harris also dished out eight assists for the Nets, who won for just the second time in seven games. Anthony Morrow finished with 16 points for New Jersey and Brook Lopez had 13.

Wesley Matthews made 5-of-6 three-pointers en route to 25 points off the bench for the Blazers, who have lost three in a row. Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge chipped in with 21 and 20 points, respectively, in the setback.

The Nets scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to go in front. Harris' two free throws gave New Jersey an 80-78 edge.

The remainder of the frame was tight and Kris Humphries made a layup with 1:43 left to give the Nets an 89-87 margin. Matthews made a jumper at the other end to tie the game.

Harris then made a big shot from beyond the arc to give New Jersey a 92-89 margin with 1:12 to play. Aldridge made 1-of-2 from the foul line to make it a two-point contest with 25.9 seconds remaining.

The Nets went 6-of-6 from the charity stripe down the stretch to seal the victory.

First-year Nets head coach Avery Johnson said he wasn't sure if his 6-11 team knows how to win yet. New Jersey will have a quick turnaround, with a game at New York on Tuesday and one at home against Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

"We'll see how we bounce back tomorrow and get in the weight room a little bit and go into another back-to-back," he said.

Portland held a 26-23 lead after 12 minutes of action, but New Jersey scored the first five points of the second quarter to take a 28-26 edge.

New Jersey was ahead 41-40 following Morrow's trey with 3 1/2 minutes remaining. The Blazers, though, ended the half on a 12-3 run to go in front. Roy capped the burst with a jumper to make it a 52-44 game at the break.

A Matthews three-pointer and two Aldridge jumpers gave Portland a 62-50 lead with about nine minutes to go in the third.

The Nets responded with a 14-2 surge to tie the game. Harris tallied nine points during the flurry, including a trey to make it 64-64 with 4 1/2 minutes remaining.

Rudy Fernandez's technical free throw and Marcus Camby's layup gave the Blazers a 78-73 lead heading to the fourth.

Game Notes

Portland had won five in a row against the Nets. The Blazers are 11-4 in the previous 15 meetings with New Jersey, which had lost four straight at home versus Portland...The Blazers started a four-game road trip on Sunday...New Jersey shot 52.5 percent from the field, while Portland made 42.3 percent of its shots...Camby had six points and 10 rebounds...Humphries ended with 10 points and eight rebounds...Roy had made 38 straight foul shots, dating back to November 1 at Chicago, before missing from the line in the fourth quarter.