defence to do a better job of stopping the running and short passing games. And to get to the quarterback more, which

NEW YORK -- C.J. McCollum took over in the third quarter for the Portland Trail Blazers to victory.McCollum scored 33 points, Evan Turner had 19 and the Trail Blazers beat the Brooklyn Nets 129-109 on Sunday. Portland snapped a three-game losing streak and extended Brooklyns skid to four.Damian Lillard added 18 points for the Trail Blazers, and Allen Crabbe had 14. Crabbe signed a four-year, $75 million restricted free-agent offer sheet with Brooklyn before Portland matched in the offseason.Brook Lopez had 21 points for the Nets. Trevor Booker had 16, and Bojan Bogdanovic 15.McCollum made four 3-pointers and scored 12 points in the third quarter to help the Trail Blazers take a 99-84 lead into the fourth.McCollum extended Portlands lead to 22 by making a driving layup and then sinking a free throw to give the Trail Blazers a 110-88 lead with 8:08 remaining in the fourth quarter. Portland never looked back.I had some good looks, McCollum said. Guys did a great job moving the ball and finding the weak side. It was like throwing rocks in the ocean.Poor third quarters are becoming a trend, according to Lopez.I think one of the things that is difficult for us is the third quarters, Lopez said. I think there are usually games where weve come out and teams have made a run and come out and hit first. It is tough to come back from that playing behind the rest of the night.I just think we come out flat. I think its on us 100 percent. I mean, I dont think you can look at the other teams. Weve had a variety of different guys, and they play differently. I think that one is on us for sure.TIP-INSTrail Blazers: Coach Terry Stotts praised the growth of Mason Plumlee as a playmaker. What we use the most is his playmaking ability, his passing. We give him the freedom to get a rebound and take it up. We play through him out on the perimeter because hes a good passer. He sees the game. I think he helps our perimeter guys get better shots because of his playmaking, passing and rolling, rolling to the weak side. ... Al-Farouq Aminu (left calf) and Festus Ezeli (left knee) were inactive.Nets: Coach Kenny Atkinson left the door open for former No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett to have an expanded role going forward. That was a pleasant surprise to see Anthony come in and help us out. Well keep looking at it. Were going to keep looking at our rotations and, really, we want to give guys opportunity. When we see something in practice, when we see another guy might need a rest, I think were always looking at giving our guys opportunities. Yes, youll see him and other guys thrown in there at times. ... Jeremy Lin (strained left hamstring) and Caris LeVert (left foot rehab) were inactive.LIN RETURN?Jeremy is progressing well, Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said. I cant give you a timetable or an update in terms of a specific day hes back. I just think hes progressing on schedule.UP NEXTTrail Blazers: Visit New York on Tuesday night. Portland heads to New York as losers of three of its last four.Nets: Host Boston on Wednesday night. Brooklyn hope to snap a four-game losing streak against Boston.Stitched Avalanche Jerseys . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd. Colorado Avalanche Shirts . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. https://www.cheapavalanche.com/ . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. Avalanche Jerseys 2021 . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed. Avalanche Jerseys China . - Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds, J.MONTREAL - Two potentially vulnerable teams clash tonight when the Calgary Stampeders visit the Montreal Alouettes. Both 1-1 teams will be looking to bounce back when they meet at Percival Molson Stadium on TSN and TSN Mobile TV. Catch the pre-game show live NOW. The Alouettes are coming off a woeful 19-11 loss at home to Winnipeg last week that raised questions on whether the team is in sync with its new coaching staff. Calgary blew a second-half lead to lose 36-21 to Saskatchewan last week and lost starting quarterback Drew Tate and a few players on defence to injury, making Kevin Glenn the starter against Montreal. The Alouettes hoped they got things sorted out in team meetings. "We sat down, everybody talked and got everything off their chest," running back Brandon Whitaker said Thursday. "As professionals, we have to put out a better performance. "The defence had a great game but we just didnt come out to play. We take that to heart." Quarterback Anthony Calvillo had the look of a man trying to quell a rebellion this week, saying the new coaching staff was not at fault and that the players have to buy into their system and perform up to expectations. The offence looked lost against the Bombers, managing only nine first downs in the game. Calvillo was sacked seven times. That raised debate on his relationship with new coach Dan Hawkins and offensive co-ordinator Mike Miller after five years playing under quarterback guru Marc Trestman. Calvillo has always sat by himself on the bench between drives, but that suddenly has become an issue. So have his frequent visible signs of exasperation at sacks, broken plays and missed passes. "Now things are getting more emphasized," said Calvillo. "The new coaching staff might not be used to it and Im going to adjust to that because I know how important my body demeanour is to our team. "When they see me frustrated, especially with the way things have been going, its going to bring them down. So its been talked about and its something Ill continue to work on." On Thursday, he reiterated that it is a question of performance and not of confidence in the coaching staff. "I would never go on the field if there were questions about a game plan," he said. "What it comes down to now is us executing the game plan. "Theres a lot of confidence in our offence and now its up to us to go out and carry it onto the field. The biggest thing for us is that we have to believe we can get the job done. When you go into a game without any confidence, youre defeated..dddddddddddd." It would take a massive turnaround from last weeks effort, but the Stampeder defence isnt counting out Calvillo or the Montreal offence, which has, in recent years, been among the CFLs best. Calgary has defensive questions of its own, defensive backs Keenan MacDougall (groin), Jamar Wall (ankle) and Derrius Brooks (ankle) and lineman Ben dAguilar (knee) all out. Quincy Butler, Keon Raymond, Yannick Carter and Kevin Huntley will dress. Raymond will see his first action this season. "They (the Alouettes) have a lot of veteran guys there and Im pretty sure theyre going to rebound and play hard," he said. "Their coaching staff is trying to get used to the league and its a big difference, but they have veteran guys like Anthony Calvillo trying to put their imprint on things. "I seriously doubt them coming out and misfiring again." The Stampeders are probably the best equipped team in the league to deal with an injury to their starting quarterback. Glenn played most of last season with Tate out and went 9-5, and replaced him again for Calgarys run to the Grey Cup game. "Hes probably the best backup in the CFL," said Montreal rush end John Bowman. "He brings experience, knowledge of the game and he reads situations good. "Im glad we get him off a short week and he probably wasnt prepared to start, but hes one of the best quarterbacks in the league." Coach John Hufnagel is less concerned about his quarterback than about getting the running game going. And he wants the defence to do a better job of stopping the running and short passing games. And to get to the quarterback more, which may be achievable with Calvillo absorbing 12 sacks in the first two games. "They had their problems last week but guess what? The Calgary Stampeders had some problems last week also," he said. Montreal is missing guard Andrew Woodruff, who will be replaced by American Michael Ola. Off-season signing Jerome Messam is to make his Alouettes debut. Calgary offensive lineman Dan Federkeil did not make the trip due to an illness. And Canadian quarterback prospect Brad Sinopoli will be in the lineup as a receiver. The Stampeders were scheduled to have their day-before-a-game walkthrough at the stadium, but were informed Thursday morning they couldnt because of an insurance issue. Instead, they went through their plays in a hotel ballroom. "I make the schedule a week in advance and hopefully there are no glitches, but you have to adjust," said Hufnagel, doing his best to laugh it off. ' ' '