Former Duke basketball sniper continues to ride hot shooting streak

Former Duke basketball star shooter Gary Trent Jr. is continuing to ride his hot shooting hand as he hopes to lead the Portland Trail Blazers into the playoffs.

The NBA’s bubble has been very good to former Blue Devil star and rising star for the Portland Trail Blazers Gary Trent Jr.

Portland had its work cut out for them entering Orlando, Florida as the team needed to at least be the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference Standings, within four games of the No. 8 seed.

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While there is still work to be done, the Trail Blazers are in a good position to make the No. 8 vs. No. 9 Play-In Series to reach the Western Conference Playoffs, and that is in part because of the outstanding shooting from Gary Trent Jr.

As a perfect fourth scoring option for the team behind Damien Lillard, CJ McCollum, and Carmelo Anthony, Trent Jr. is averaging 18.0 points per game inside the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex as the Blazers currently sit with a 2-1 record.

In the first game down in Orlando, the 21-year-old went for 17 points, one rebound, two assists, and one block on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor, 4-of-5 from 3-point range, and 3-of-5 from the free throw line as Portland came away with a critical victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, 140-135 in overtime.

Trent Jr. and Lillard then brought the Blazers back from a 24-point deficit only to see that small lead vanish in a 128-124 loss to the Boston Celtics but not without 21 points, one rebound, one assist, one block, and one steal from the former Blue Devil on 7-of-12 shooting, with only one shot attempt coming from inside the 3-point arc.

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That leads into Tuesday night’s game where the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Houston Rockets 110-102 behind 16 points, two rebounds, and one steal from the Minnesota native on 5-of-11 shooting from the floor, 4-of-9 from 3-point territory, and makes on both free throw attempts.

A scorching 17-of-31 shooting since the NBA has restarted its season and 15-of-29 from 3-point range has sent Gary Trent Jr. to the top of the list as one of the best young shooters in the NBA, and his team will continue to need his abilities as they look to make that final playoff push.

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In its five games left in the regular season, Portland will face the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks, and Brooklyn Nets as the team currently sits in the No. 9 seed and is one and a half games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the No. 8 seed.

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