Roy rescues Blazers

Portland rallies from 19-point deficit, beats Hawks 94-93

By Kerry Eggers

LocalNewsDaily.com, Jan 27, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (2 Reader comments)

How easily did the Trail Blazers’ Brandon Roy maneuver through the Atlanta defense to the basket in the closing minutes of an improbable 94-93 victory Sunday at the Rose Garden?

Had it been rushing water, the flood would have been on.

Four times in the final six minutes – and three times in the final 2:47 – Roy drove past the Hawks’ Joe Johnson for baskets that took Portland from the brink of defeat to victory.

“As good a comeback as I can remember,” said Portland’s Channing Frye after the Blazers rallied from a 19-point third-quarter deficit to overhaul the Hawks. “We showed a lot of guts. We’re learning how to be allergic to losing. That’s the type of attitude we need to take.”

For the longest time, it appeared the Blazers (26-18) were on their way to their third straight loss and fifth defeat in the last seven games.

Then Roy – flu-ridden but determined – led a charge back in what coach Nate McMillan called Portland’s best win of the season.

“It was similar to the game we gave away in Philadelphia,” said McMillan, the reference to a 92-88 loss on Nov. 16 in which the 76ers rallied from a 25-point deficit to win.

On Sunday, Portland was behind 52-37 at the half and trailed 56-37 early in the third quarter.

Atlanta still held a seemingly comfortable 89-78 lead with five minutes to play when Roy took over the game.

Over the final 5:57, Roy scored 11 points – converting a pair of three-point plays – to draw the Blazers back.

Atlanta, meanwhile, failed to score over the game’s final 2:03.

Roy’s driving layup with 33.9 seconds to go tied the score at 93-93. After a timeout, Johnson worked the clock, then tried to put a move on Roy, who held his ground and forced him into an airball jumper as the shot clock expired.

“That was beautiful to see,” McMillan said. “Joe couldn’t go anywhere. Brandon kept him in front of him, didn’t give him space to get the shot off.”

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