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Portland Trail Blazers: The greatest Opening Day performances in franchise history (Pt. 2)

By Marlow Ferguson Jr.

PORTLAND, OR - SEPTEMBER 25: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates after hitting a three point shot late in the fourth quarter of an NBA game against the Utah Jazzat the Moda Center on September 25, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. Lillard scored 39 points as the Blazers won 113-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - SEPTEMBER 25: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates after hitting a three point shot late in the fourth quarter of an NBA game against the Utah Jazzat the Moda Center on September 25, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. Lillard scored 39 points as the Blazers won 113-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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Portland Trail Blazers
Bill Walton, Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Bill Walton + John Johnson + Sidney Wicks

Date: October 18th, 1974 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Walton’s stats: 18 points, 24 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 blocks, 7-of-18 from the field
Johnson’s stats: 29 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 13-of-21 from the field
Wicks’ stats: 29 points, 15 rebounds, 2 blocks, 10-of-23 from the field

Schedule makers at the time appeared to like the idea of kicking the year off with Blazers-Cavaliers matchups, and for good reason. In the first Opening Day in Blazers history, Portland eked out a thrilling115-112 victory, and then four years later, dueled it in an entertaining, four-overtime win against those same Cavs.

Take your pick on whom you believe was the No. 1 catalyst for this game. All of them produced gaudy box score numbers, but the in-game scenarios were intriguing too.

Walton hit two gutsy, game-tying free throws that sent the game into overtime, and put up that aforementioned stat line in the first game of his career.

In the overtime periods, Johnson, Wicks, and Petrie — who had 24 points himself and hit the game-winning jumper — all hit clutch jumpers that either put the Blazers ahead, or kept them within striking distance. LaRue Martin, the Blazers No. 1 pick in 1972, deserves mention too, in that regard for a tip that made it 129-129.

But, it has to be mentioned that Cleveland wasn’t a Playoff team this year, and had been coming off of a 29-win season. The Blazers themselves weren’t much better. But for the moment, in Walton’s debut, they were undefeated, and laying the groundwork for something special in a few short years.

Something about four-overtime games and the Portland Trail Blazers … they simply go well with one another.