The short-handed Portland Trail Blazers took on the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers, struggled for 43 minutes, then stepped up for the last five to secure the 98-94 win. Damian Lillard (39 pts, 6 ast, 5 rb) and LaMarcus Aldridge scored 24 of the Blazers’ 28 fourth quarter points. It wasn’t pretty, but it got the job done. The Blazers move to 27-8 on the season.
Recap
The news of the first quarter was a grisly-looking injury to Wesley Matthews, whose left knee slipped and hyperextended as he drove to the hoop. Collapsing in pain, he went to the tunnel as the Moda Center held its breath. To the delight of all in attendance (including the Lakers, who no more want an injury to their opponent than their own squad), Matthews galloped back onto the court later in the first, looking no worse for the wear, save for rubbing his knee a bit after drawing a foul at the rim. The Blazers didn’t have much else to lift their spirits, however, and they took a modest 1-point lead after the first 12 minutes.
The second quarter began with a frontcourt rotation of Thomas Robinson and Meyers Leonard, with the former playing center and the latter a stretch power forward. Against the Lakers, it worked out okay, but that wouldn’t fly against some of the NBA’s elite. The Blazers were able to put together a few good runs to go ahead by as many as seven, but the score was only 47-45 Blazers at the half.
The third quarter? What third quarter? Portland came out and laid an egg the size of a small car, allowing the Lakers to go ahead by double-digits. The Blazers were getting frustrated, as Lillard was issued a technical for reacting to being roped around the neck on a drive. Despite their struggles, the Blazers were able to go from playing “very bad” to “sort of bad,” and the Lakers lead was trimmed to three by the end of third.
The fourth quarter had a Leonard four-point play. It also had a lot of bad things, as those four points were the only points the Blazers had until Aldridge hit a pair of free throws with seven minutes left. The Lakers were taking ugly shots and hitting them. The Blazers were launching long jumpers. Somebody needed to step up and drive, and it just wasn’t happening. Then Lillard hit a three. And another. And Aldridge got a huge putback dunk. Then he hit a jumper. And finally, Lillard scored again out of the timeout, and it was a 9-0 Blazer run. They nursed a 3-point lead with 2:50 left in the game.
With the Blazers up four and time running out, Swaggy P (AKA Nick Young, AKA Young Kobe, AKA I’m Making These Up) leaned into a three while Batum stood within a 2-foot radius. That 2-foot radius was too close for the officials, who whistled Batum for the foul, awarding the Lakers three free throws. The Blazers came up empty, then allowed another pair of free throws.
Now down one, the Blazers had 43 seconds and the ball, and did the smart thing by giving it to Lillard, who drove like a hot knife through butter for the lay in.The Blazers held firm on the other end, and the Lakers were forced to foul Lillard with 19 seconds left, putting the Blazers up three. More points were scored, but not by the Lakers, at least not any that would give them a shot at the win, and the Blazers walked away victorious, 98-94.
Players
The game ball is split between Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge. Lillard had the better game (39 points with 16 in the fourth, six rebounds, five assists, two steals, a block, and just one turnover) but Aldridge (21 and eight) was also there when the Blazers needed him. Lillard and Aldridge scored all but four of the Blazers’ 28 fourth quarter points. Those other four came off a Leonard and-1, probably the only time I’ve ever seen someone over 7-feet convert a 4-point play.
Meyers Leonard gets the mini-game ball for being the only other Blazer in double-digits. He had 12 points and 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Also, I’ve been looking, and it’s possible that he is the tallest player ever to get a 4-point and-1. The stats aren’t easily found, but from 1996 through today he is, and 4-point plays happen less often than you might think. At any rate, he hit open shots and was an asset for the Blazers tonight when they sorely needed production from someone… anyone.
Chris Kaman, starting for the injured Joel Freeland and Robin Lopez, had 11 boards and three blocks, but his offense was less than his best.
Nicolas Batum had 8-3-3 and slipped quietly back into “mediocre Batum” mode, despite going a respectable 2-5 from range. He needs to forget that, and fast.
Notes
- When asked postgame about the injury to his hyperextended left knee, Wesley Matthews replied, “There is no injury.” Attakid.
- Damian Lillard scored 16 points in the final six minutes of the game.
The Blazers take on the Miami Heat on Thursday, January 8th at 7:30 p.m. PST in the Moda Center for a nationally televised game. You better believe the Blazers know everyone will be watching for this one.