LaMarcus Aldridge, iginiya ang Trail Blazers sa panalo vs. Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Matapos matalo ng dalawang sunod sa last-second shots, naging determinado ang Portland Trail Blazers na hindi na ito maulit muli kahapon laban sa Oklahoma City Thunder.

Nagposte si LaMarcus Aldridge ng 25 puntos at 14 rebounds sa pagbalik ng Blazers mula sa 13 puntos na pagkakabaon sa second half upang talunin ang Thunder, 98-94, sa tinaguriang showdown ng mga heavyweight ng Western Conference.



Nagdagdag si Damian Lillard ng 21 puntos at 11 assists at naipasok ang dalawang free throw sa huling 2.1 segundo para sa Portland, na tinalo ang Oklahoma City sa ikalawang pagkakataon sa Disyembre.

Pinutol ng Portland (25-7) ang kanilang two-game losing streak ngunit nasa likuran pa rin ng Oklahoma City (25-6) sa Northwest Division standings.

‘’It was huge,’’ saad ni Lillard. ‘’The better teams in the league, a lot of times, they don’t lose two in a row. They hardly ever lose three in a row. We knew that that’s not something we wanted to deal with, losing three in a row, especially after two heartbreakers. (Tuesday) we defended a lot better, we were focused and we knew what we needed to do coming in. We just kept with it and grinded it out.’’

Umiskor si Kevin Durant ng 37 puntos at humakot ng 14 rebounds para sa Thunder, ngunit nagawa lamang niyang makakuha ng 1 puntos sa fourth quarter at nagmintis sa kanyang 11-foot jumper na sana ay nagtabla sa laro sa mga nalalabing segundo.

‘’My teammates told me if I was contested that I probably would have made the shot,’’ ani Durant. ‘’I’m sure that’s going to replay in my mind for the rest of the night. I wish I could have hit that for my team. We probably would have been in overtime right now.’’

Nakapagtala lamang ang Thunder ng 16 puntos sa fourth quarter at natalo sa unang pagkakataon sa anim na New Year’s eve home games mula nang lumipat ang prangkisa sa Oklahoma City.

Lumamang ang Oklahoma City ng 13 puntos sa ikatlong yugto, ngunit nakadikit ang Portland at lumamang sa unang pagkakataon sa 87-86 sa dalawang free throw ni Aldridge, may 3:58 natitira.

Sinagot ito ni Reggie Jackson sa pamamagitan ng isang jumper upang muling ilagay sa unahan ang Oklahoma City, ngunit ang 3-pointer ni Batum ang nagbigay sa Portland ng 90-88 bentahe at hindi na muling naghabol ang Blazers.

‘’It’s a long way to go,’’ giit ng coach ng Portland na si Terry Stotts. ‘’It shows what we’re capable of doing. We have to sustain it. But to get a win like that, after two disappointing losses, and again, getting it in a back-to-back on the road, that’s a good win.’’

‘’When you play (the Thunder), in our division, and you could face them later on, it’s always a big game for us,’’ sabi naman ni Aldridge. ‘’We always want to win here or at home. To win it on the road is big for us.’’

Resulta ng ibang laro:

Atlanta 92, Boston 91

Indiana 91, Cleveland 76

Golden State 94, Orlando 81

Sacramento 110, Houston 106

San Antonio 113, Brooklyn 92

Toronto 85, Chicago 79

Milwaukee 94, LA Lakers 79

.. Continue: Balita.net.ph (source)

LaMarcus Aldridge, iginiya ang Trail Blazers sa panalo vs. Thunder