| |
|
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:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 27 JULY 2026: Tszyu vs Spence, Return of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury Highlight Busy Week By Eric Armit, , Tue, 28 Jul 2026The Legacy Continues: Team Durán Prepares for Historic Panama-Mexico Showdown By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 28 Jul 2026NM Ric Portugalera Tops Hongkong Blitz Chess By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 28 Jul 2026Nurghali gets second shot at Japparbergenov’s bantamweight title at International Boxing Day in Astana , Tue, 28 Jul 2026Champion's Mindset: Gustavo Trujillo Ready to Defend BKB Heavyweight Title Against Mark O'Neil at BKB 58 , Tue, 28 Jul 2026Spanish boxer Eddine has been Hospitalized in Spain By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 28 Jul 2026PH football in group C, G By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 28 Jul 2026PHILBOXING.COM MONDAY ROUNDUP: Tszyu Outclasses Spence in Sydney as "The Truth" Retires; Heavyweight Drama in Pattaya and Jeddah By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Mon, 27 Jul 2026'The Fight Is Signed': Hearn Declares Joshua vs. Fury Secured as Mind Games Begin with 'Landlord' Spoof By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Mon, 27 Jul 2026Chezka Centeno wins 3rd world title by ruling the Oneida WPA Women's World 8-Ball Championship By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 27 Jul 2026CARE conducts 6.5mile open water in Davao Gulf By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 27 Jul 2026Mise, Arellano rule Davao-Japan golfest By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 27 Jul 2026Berlanga, Hitchins Win in Zuffa Boxing New York Event By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Mon, 27 Jul 2026World champion Sanzhar Tashkenbay to headline International Boxing Day in Astana , Mon, 27 Jul 2026Cyrud "The Ferocious" Cabautan Defeats Michael "D' Power Fist" Diaz in Olympus Rising by TWC Amateur MMA Fight By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 27 Jul 2026USA Boxing Earns Four Wins at 2026 Capri Boxing Cup , Mon, 27 Jul 2026Tim Tszyu Dominates Spence in Wide UD Win as 'The Truth' Formally Retires By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 26 Jul 2026Joshua Survives Early Knockdowns to Stop Prenga, Clearing Path for Fury Mega-Fight By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Sun, 26 Jul 2026Weigh-In Results - All Set for the Main Event Between Steven Butler and Edgar Berlanga Tomorrow Night in New York City! , Sun, 26 Jul 2026Team USA Set for Capri Boxing Cup Against Italy on Saturday , Sun, 26 Jul 2026'The Comeback' Weigh-In results and confirmed Fight Night running order as AJ faces Prenga By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Sat, 25 Jul 2026Errol Spence vs Tim Tszyu: Do or Die Down Under By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 25 Jul 2026SYDNEY WEIGH-IN REPORT: Spence and Tszyu On Weight; Co-Main Event Cancelled After Fulton Blows Weight By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Sat, 25 Jul 2026Fury Halts Wach in Thailand, Leaving Ball in Joshua’s Court for Mega-Fight By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Sat, 25 Jul 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Great First Half of the Year for the WBC By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Sat, 25 Jul 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|