PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Trail Blazers' first preseason game is two days away, but fans got a chance to see the team in action for the first time Sunday afternoon at Fan Fest.
The team split up into two squads, the Gray team and the Black team. The Gray squad, behind 12 points and seven rebounds from rookie Jaylen Hoard, prevailed 48-44.
Kent Bazemore, who led all players with 14 points, was voted MVP of Fan Fest by the fans. After Bazemore was announced as MVP, Damian Lillard grabbed the microphone and good-naturedly objected to the vote.
"We know it should have been Jaylen [Hoard] but it's alright," Lillard said.
Other players to score in double figures included Anfernee Simons (13 points) and CJ McCollum (10).
This was the 15th annual Fan Fest and this year's version, free to the public as always, was held at Veteran's Memorial Coliseum. The doors opened at 4 p.m. and the intrasquad scrimmage began at 5 p.m.
The Blazers have seven new players on the team this season, including Hassan Whiteside, Bazemore, Pau Gasol, Mario Hezonja, Anthony Tolliver and rookies Nassir Little and Hoard.
Whiteside (left ankle), Gasol (left foot) and Zach Collins (finger) didn't play in the scrimmage.
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