| |
|
NBA Playoffs -- Lillard scores 30, lift Blazers over OKC in Game 1
By Nicky Manguino
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 15 Apr 2019
PORTLAND- The Portland Trail Blazers jumped to a 39-25 lead in the opening quarter and then held off the Oklahoma City Thunder the rest of the way to take Game 1 of their opening round series, 104-99, on Sunday (Manila time) at the Moda Center.
All-Star point guard Damian Lillard led the charge with 30 points, four rebounds and four assists. He converted 9-of-21 field goals, including 5-of-11 from 3-point distance. Lillard's backcourt tandem, C.J. McCollum, finished with 24 points, but he made only nine of 24 shots and showed a lot of rust after just recently coming back from a ten-game absence due to a knee injury.
"We know how it feels to win again," Lillard told reporters after the game.
In the past two postseasons, Portland has lost eight straight as they were swept by the Golden State Warriors in 2007 and by the New Orleans Pelicans last year.
Enes Kanter, who started in place of the injured Jusuf Nurkic, was a huge reason for the turnaround. Kanter, waived by the New York Knicks during February trading deadline, scored 20 points and hauled 18 rebounds. Al-Farouq Aminu contributed 10 points for Portland, which 36 of 86 field goals.
After closing the gap at 54-48 at halftime, the Thunder put the added pressure in the fourth quarter and came to within 93-92 with 2:44 left to play. But uprising ended abruptly when Lillard sank a 30-foot 3 to extend the lead back to four.
Russell Westbrook fueled much of Oklahoma's attack with a triple-double effort that netted him 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Fellow All-Star Paul George accounted for 24 points and 10 rebounds, but he struggled greatly from beyond the arc, missing 11 of 15 tries.
Game 2 of this best-of-7 series returns to the Moda Center on Tuesday night (Wednesday AM Manila time).
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Nicky Manguino.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Introducing The Spartan Series: Vegas Fight Experience — Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
, Sun, 08 Jun 2025RESULTS FROM TONIGHT’S “HALL OF FAME FIGHT NIGHT” PRESENTED BY SALITA PROMOTIONS & ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT LIVE ON DAZN AT THE TURNING STONE RESORT CASINO
, Sat, 07 Jun 2025Davis vs De Los Santos: The Fight That Never Was
By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 07 Jun 20252 Filipino grandmasters join Touchmove chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 07 Jun 2025Keyshawn Davis Fight Canceled After Weight Miss, Mason-Nakathila Elevated to Main Event
By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 07 Jun 2025Eumir Marcial Set to Battle Alexis Gaytán in Pacquiao's Comeback Show
By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 07 Jun 2025SUNDAY: Fabio Turchi-Milans Volkovs Cruiserweight Showdown Headlines Italy Fight Card LIVE in the U.S. on ESPN+
, Sat, 07 Jun 2025Bomogao KOs Rubio in 1st round
By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 07 Jun 2025REYES CUP SET FOR ELECTRIFYING RETURN TO MANILA, OCTOBER 16–19
, Sat, 07 Jun 2025King's Promotions June 19th Card at Wind Creek Event Center is Postponed Card Rescheduled for September 5th
, Sat, 07 Jun 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 7 - AMATEUR BOXING CAREER OF MUHAMMAD ALI
By Maloney L. Samaco, , Fri, 06 Jun 2025Indiana, Haliburton Do It Again, Pacers Shock OKC on the Road, 111-110
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 06 Jun 2025STAR BOXING PRESENTS SPECIAL PRESS CONFERENCE-MONDAY
, Fri, 06 Jun 2025Undefeated Super Bantamweight Chavez Barrientes Returns June 7th Against Sharone Carter on Most Valuable Prospects 13 Card
, Fri, 06 Jun 2025Vasiliy Lomachenko Announces Retirement: A Glorious Chapter Closes in Boxing History
By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 06 Jun 2025“HALL OF FAME FIGHT NIGHT” OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND QUOTES
, Fri, 06 Jun 2025Press Conference Notes: Keyshawn Davis Returns Home for Inaugural World Title Defense at Norfolk’s Scope Arena
, Fri, 06 Jun 2025DAZN PRESENTS NEW NO DAYS OFF EPISODE HIGHLIGHTING REIGNING UNIFIED SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION FRANCHÓN CREWS-DEZURN
, Fri, 06 Jun 2025ANTONIO VARGAS PENS CO-PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM AND BOXLAB
, Fri, 06 Jun 2025Antimaro, Jimenez to fight in Japan on June 7
By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 05 Jun 2025Keyshawn Davis vs. Edwin De Los Santos Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
, Thu, 05 Jun 2025“Prospects Collide” Full Card Announced
, Thu, 05 Jun 2025Correa Set for High-Stakes Bantamweight Showdown vs. Undefeated Michael Angeletti on ProBox TV
, Thu, 05 Jun 2025Kansas Athletic Commission overturns ‘No Contest’ to TKO win for undefeated Super middleweight prospect Marco Romero
, Thu, 05 Jun 20252nd JCI Senate Lipa Chess Festival set
By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Jun 2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
