Trail Blazers lose players, game, to Thunder 101-90
34. 101. 149. Final. 90
The Portland Trail Blazers opted not to rest their key players beyond LaMarcus Aldridge and Steve Blake when they faced a highly-motivated Oklahoma City Thunder team fighting for their playoff lives, and while the Trail Blazers fought too, they eventually went down 101-90.
Unfortunately, Nicolas Batum (right knee, x-rays negative) and C.J. McCollum (ankle) also went down with injuries and did not return. Chris Kaman tweaked his back. Also puzzling was that the Trail Blazers played their starters and kept the game close, but decided to rest them in the fourth. On the one hand, why risk another untimely injury?
The game was meaningless standings-wise for the Trail Blazers, but vital for the Thunder, whose postseason now depends on whether they can win their last regular season game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and whether the New Orleans Pelicans beat the San Antonio Spurs. The Pelicans have to lose and the Thunder have to win for Oklahoma City to make the playoffs; otherwise, it’s New Orleans.
Recap
The Trail Blazers fell behind 6-0 early before tying the game at 11. Meyers Leonard had the Portland’s first five points, but picked up two quick fouls and was forced to sit. OKC got a lead and pushed it to double-digits as Tim Frazier and Allen Crabbe both get early minutes.
The news of the quarter: Batum went to the locker room with a knee injury, and did not return. While x-rays were negative, he was set to undergo an MRI as of press time. It was 35-21 Thunder at the end of the first quarter.
The Trail Blazers got down as many as 16, but clawed back and cut it to eight on an Alonzo Gee dunk. Then McCollum came up limping. He left the game and also would not return, but fortunately it was just a sprained ankle. Portland allowed 13 offensive boards (with 0 of their own) in the first half, and trailed the rebounding battle 32-18. With numbers like that, a 49-42 first-half deficit almost seems merciful.
They opened the third with a burst, but the OKC lead still hovered around 10. Freeland earned his second double-digit scoring game of the year, but the Trail Blazers were trailing by double-digits after three, 81-70.
Seeing enough injuries for one lifetime, the Trail Blazers rested their starters. We got to see a great pass by Frazier to Leonard for three– one of a career-high five threes for the forward. But despite their best efforts, another injury hit as Kaman tweaked his back and had to hit the pine. While the Trail Blazers got within six with five minutes to go, a series of missteps, an incorrect 24-second shot clock violation call, and a talent disparity were Portland’s doom. The Thunder won 101-90.
Players
Meyers Leonard continued his climb from scapegoat to fan favorite, pouring in a career-high 24 points on 9-17 shooting (5-9 from deep) with four boards, a block, and just one turnover. You can gripe about the rebounding, but when he’s scoring like he was, the complaint would fall on deaf ears.
Joel Freeland also got a career-high with 16 on 8-13 shooting. His jump shot was on point tonight; it wasn’t just cleanup work under the rim.
Alonzo Gee had his most productive game as a Trail Blazer with 11 points. He also appears to be a capable defender, something that you hope won’t be needed in the playoffs (because everyone ahead of him should be healthy), but it’s nice to know that the Trail Blazers have that card to play.
Chris Kaman had 14 points, and was licking his chops at the opportunity to post up against Enes Kanter.
Damian Lillard was held to 10 points, looking out of sorts in an unplanned rotation. He took just nine shots in 27 minutes of play.
In one of the more interesting lines of the game, Tim Frazier had 3-4-7 on 1-8 shooting. He had 0 assists as a Trail Blazer before tonight, and some of his dishes were absolutely stunning. He gives a much different look than Blake, and if he could hit a shot, he could be a reasonable backup if needed.
Notes
The Trail Blazers’ playoff opponent is still in flux. It’s probably going to be a mess until the last game, but rumor has it that a rematch with the Houston Rockets is looking ever-more likely.