The Portland Trail Blazers, coming off three full days’ rest, faced the road-weary Chicago Bulls who were playing on the second night of a back-to-back without the service of their two best players (Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol), and one of their best bench players (Kirk Hinrich). Without much resistance, the Trail Blazers’ starters shut the door early and topped the Bulls 105-87. The Trail Blazers have now won six straight and sit at 9-3, a game and a half behind the Western conference-leading Memphis Grizzlies.
Recap
Nicolas Batum scored the game’s first four points in his return to action. Between him, Robin Lopez, and a LaMarcus Aldridge three, the Trail Blazers went up 13-3 early. The Bulls missed 10 of their first 11 shots, and a Damian Lillard three made it 16-3 halfway through the first quarter, forcing a Chicago timeout. If the Bulls were hoping a break would reset things they were sorely mistaken, as they blew a layup and allowed a RoLo bunny on an assist from Lillard.
While the Bulls got to the line a few times, they had almost no luck offensively. Meanwhile, Aldridge hit another three and the lead ballooned to 26-9 after a Chis Kaman free throw. As the Trail Blazers emptied their bench, the Bulls took advantage and cut the lead the 12, but Taj Gibson‘s third foul gave Aldridge the and-one. Failing to convert, it was 30-16 with about a minute left in the period… but the Bulls made another push to get it back down to 9 before a last minute bail-out pass from Lillard to Kaman as time expired made it 32-21 at the end of the first.
The Bulls shot just 28% to the Blazer’s 66%, and you just knew that couldn’t last. After trailing by about 10 the whole second quarter, the Bulls hit a jumper and pair of unanswered threes to pull it to 39-35 with seven minutes to go. Head Coach Terry Stotts made the obvious move by putting his starters back in, and Lillard caught quick fire from deep, hitting two shots tight to the line from the same left-center spot. In short order, the Trail Blazers lead was back to 51-39. The Bulls were left wondering what happened to their run as Coach Thibodeau called time.
The Trail Blazers were only getting started, as Aldridge dropped an amazing dime to Wesley Matthews for the dunk, Lillard had a hesitation move to freeze Bulls Center Joakim Noah at the rim and finish the reverse, Aldridge had a huge block on the other end which led to him snapping up a jumpshot, and Allen Crabbe stole it for the fast break slam (on which he almost hurt himself). Suddenly the lead was 20. It happened so fast that I almost couldn’t type fast enough to keep up with it. The Trail Blazers took a 61-43 lead into halftime, shooting 61% to the Bulls’ 31%… still a huge discrepancy.
…but now you were… pretty sure… the Trail Blazers couldn’t keep that up, even as Lillard (13-5-8 at half) and Aldridge (14 points and 2-2 from deep) begged to differ.
The third quarter started with a bang as Mike Dunleavy leveled Lillard as he shot a three. Matthews came to Lillard’s defense, shoving Dunleavy as the refs went to the monitors and awarded offsetting technicals to Matthews and Aaron Brooks, and a flagrant 1 on Dunleavy. Lillard sank the three technical free throws and the Trail Blazers retained possession, allowing Aldridge to draw the foul on Noah while shooting, hitting two free throws of his own to stretch the lead to 68-45 with 9:30 left in the third.
In another unfair hand dealt by fate, Bulls’ power forward Taj Gibson crumpled to the floor shortly thereafter. He had to be helped back to the locker room. Replays showed he rolled his ankle badly on Matthews’ foot. After some back-and-forth, the Trail Blazers (specifically Lillard) rattled off 5 quick points and pushed it to 84-58 with three minutes left in the quarter, and went into the fourth up 89-65.
The Trail Blazers’ bench emptied in the final period, when Crabbe, Meyers Leonard, Dorell Wright, Steve Blake, Will Barton, and Thomas Robinson all shared court time. Predictably, the lead shrank, but Leonard came to the rescue with a three to restore a 16-point lead late. The game was never in doubt, but you want to maintain those big leads if only to keep appearances. The Trail Blazers’ bench tidied up the loose ends for the final score of 105-87.
Players
Note: Due to the… ahem… favorable outcome of the game, no Trail Blazers’ starter played more than 28 minutes.
Damian Lillard had 21, 6, and 9 assists, and registered an otherworldly +40. That’s pretty huge considering the Trail Blazers “only” won by 18. He looked fresh and focused throughout, and though most of his damage (especially passing) came in the first half, he had some timely shots that stopped Chicago’s best effort at a comeback. A solid game for him, and very productive: he only missed two shots, and was 4-4 from deep.
LaMarcus Aldridge didn’t dominate, but then again was often the focus of one of the league’s best defenders in Noah. Still, Aldridge tallied 16 points and 9 boards and had a first quarter that would make any NBA player envious. Showing post moves, mid-range jumpers, and multiple threes – all in the first quarter – Aldridge is proving that he’s developed the complete offensive package in a 6’11 body, and that’s a matchup nightmare for most opponents.
In his first game back from a four-game layoff due to a knee contusion, Nicolas Batum was underwhelming but efficient. His 9, 3, and 3 was a far sight better to the eye than in the stat book.
Wesley Matthews played passionately, which is necessary, but had only marginal impact on the scoreboard. Then again, you can chalk it up to Matthews doing what was needed of him, as he’s done his whole career: he only took a single three. Matthews had 12-3-4 with 2 steals.
Robin Lopez was 5-7 from the field for 12 points, 7 boards, and a block. Solid, not outstanding.
Steve Blake struggled with his shot and was held scoreless off four misses. He did have 4 asissts.
Chris Kaman only had 3 boards, and needed 11 shots for his 10 points. Even when he doesn’t have a great game he’s a threat, and sometimes that’s more than enough. It certainly was tonight.
Allen Crabbe got first nod at shooting guard off the bench in the absence of C.J. McCollum (finger). He played extended minutes and set a new career-high of 9 points.
Notes
- After torrid shooting early, the Trail Blazers ended up shooting a more mortal 49% from the floor to the Bulls’ 36%.
- Having Matthews and Blake in at the same time sets the tone nicely on defense: they both work extremely hard, and it rubs off on everyone else.
The Trail Blazers now hit the road, heading to Boston to face the Celtics on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 3:00 p.m. PST.