Fourth Quarter Collapse Ruins Blazers’ Night vs Thunder

For those wondering if thePortland Trail Blazerswould win another game this season, the answer might be no. They’ll never have a better chance than they did versus theOklahoma City Thunder今晚，最终框架上的19位。但他们的射击冰冷，他们的防守翻转，okc从距离疯狂，朝所有的燃烧器98-94击中。那些善待良好情绪的人感到失望，但球队坦克呼吸令人叹为观。

KeonJohnson had 18 point for the Blazers in the loss, Greg Brown III and Ben McLemore 17 apiece. The Thunder worked the margins well, amassing 12 steals and 12 blocks.

First Quarter

“Frantic” and “Ugly” were the two best adjectives to describe the opening of this game. Both teams tried to play with tempo. Neither took care of the ball that well, and nobody could hit an outside shot to save their lives. Bobbles, miscues, and blown-defense layups typified the Frugliness. Lindy Waters III broke the ice outside midway through the period, hitting a couple of threes. That gave permission for Portland to do so as well. Five triples between the two teams made the scoreboard tick, but neither could gain separation. Oklahoma City led 29-27 after one.

第二季度

The Thunder spent the second quarter duplicating the first: poking away steals, running out for dunks, dribbling their way into short shots in the halfcourt, missing all their deeper jumpers. The Blazers shifted into another gear, hitting multiple three-pointers, bombing with aplomb. That sent the scoreboard spinning in a way the Thunder couldn’t cope with. The Blazers led 50-40 with 3:00 left. They gave some of it back off of fast breaks. Oklahoma City’s shot chart in the second looked like a star cluster underneath the rim. But Portland still led 54-48 at intermission.

Third Quarter

俄克拉荷马城无法击中深度射击，允许波特兰在下半场开始的运球上双队。他们多次做到了，每次都迫使雷霆队从深处挖出纾困。OKC几乎立即得分枯竭。他们在第三分钟的前5分钟内得分仅5分。

Meanwhile the Blazers tattooed the restricted area with a bevy of layups and dunks. They had as many makes from two feet and in as the Thunder had points. At the 5:00 mark of the third, Portland was up by 17, 75-58. The only question was, could they bring it home? Ben McLemore’s three-point strikes said, “Yes!” Portland led 82-67 after three.

Fourth Quarter

The fourth period started with McLemore and Keon Johnson stroking threes. That appeared to put the game away. To that point, OKC had taken an entire game to hit the amount the Blazers tallied in just a couple minutes. Portland’s defense didn’t hold up as well, though. Nor did their rebounding and ball-handling. Behind fast break points and those long-awaited three-pointers, Oklahoma City cut Portland’s lead from 19 to 4 by the 6:00 mark. Turnovers gave the Thunder every chance they needed.

Head Coach Chauncey Billups. sensing disaster, put his starters back in with 5:00 left in the game, Portland up 4. McLemore tried to resurrect his early-game magic, but missed consecutive shots. The Thunder were not so unlucky. They hit multiple shots, forced plenty of turnovers, and started running away with the game. With 2:00 remaining, OKC had hit 13 field goals, the Blazers only 4. The Thunder finished the game on a 20-6 run and walked away with the victory.

Up Next

Stay tuned for analysis from the game, coming soon!

BoxScore.

The Blazers draw theNew Orleans Pelicans在Thursday evening with a 5:00, Pacific start.