Despite early game dominance from LaMarcus Aldridge and late game heroics from Damian Lillard, the Portland Trail Blazers fell to the Chicago Bulls 106-115. It was Portland’s first loss against an Eastern Conference opponent this season. It was also the first time the Bulls have beaten the Trail Blazers in their last eight meetings.
Recap
The first quarter belonged to one man and one man only; Aldridge. He opened the game shooting 10-12 from the field for 21 of the Trail Blazers 28 points. His mid-range jumper found the bottom of the net with ease, despite occasional double coverage. Portland led by four at the end of the period.
However; the rest of the Trail Blazers were not playing so well. As Aldridge exited the game and the bench units took over, it was clear that the Bulls were playing a more rounded game. Their rabid defense cost the Trail Blazers eight first-half turnovers. Nikola Mirotic abused Meyers Leonard (who made a rare appearance) in transition on multiple occasions, and the Trail Blazers lead quickly vanished. They headed to the locker room down 51-59 at half.
Up to this point, Lillard had been relatively quiet. His 13 points in the first half were dampened by three turnovers and a lack of distribution. Yet, as he tends to do, he recognized the necessity for a little urgency. The defense was so focused on Aldridge, that Lillard was allowed to get in rhythm. Unfortunately, the Trail Blazers continued to have difficulty getting more than one player going at a time. They brought it back to 78-82 at the end of the third quarter, after trailing by double-digits.
It could be that the Lillard’s clutch performance would have been enough if not for two people: Derrick Rose and Aaron Brooks. Rose nearly matched Lillard shot for shot as each point guard buried three-pointer after three-pointer. In the meantime, Brooks penetrated Portland’s defense without impediment to finish the game with 17 points on 8-10 shooting. The Trail Blazers could not survive.
Players
Damian Lillard’s 35 points were a season-high. He shot 7-11 from deep after struggling from behind the arc in Portland’s past few games. He would have been the hero if this story had a happier ending. He rounded out the performance with five rebounds and six assists, but a game-high four turnovers.
LaMarcus Aldridge was unstoppable early on, but, as expected, Bulls Head Coach Tom Thibodeau made the necessary adjustments to shut him down in the second half. Aldridge finished the game with 35 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.
Wesley Matthews was uncharacteristically quiet, but Jimmy Butler’s defense has that effect on people. Matthews took only eight shots, making half of them for 10 points.
Robin Lopez was a non-factor. This was unexpected since Chicago’s starting center Joakim Noah was forced to miss his second straight game with ankle soreness. Lopez corralled seven rebounds and scored four points on 2-8 shooting.
Nicolas Batum was more impactful than Lopez, but mostly in the wrong direction as he struggled from the field. Batum shot 3-12 for seven points, accruing five rebounds and five assists. To his credit, he did not turn the ball over at all.
Steve Blake did not do as well protecting the ball, but scored eight quick points in the third quarter to help Lillard keep Portland in it.
Notes
- The benches were the difference in this game. Between five players, Portland scored 15 points. Chicago, playing only eight deep, scored 40 points even between just Mirotic, Brooks, and Kirk Hinrich.
- Lillard and Aldridge took 45 of the Trail Blazers 88 shots. Lillard made 13-21 (61.9 percent) and Aldridge made 15-24 (62.5 percent). Everyone else combined for 15-43 (34.9 percent).
- Although the game was rather physical, the officials let each team play. There were only 28 fouls called in the game; 17 against Portland, 11 against Chicago.
The Trail Blazers are in for a tough game against the Indiana Pacers tomorrow, having over-exerted their two star players in the first half of a back-to-back.