----- Damian Lillard scores a game game-high 30 points as the Trail Blazers take a 1-0 series lead in their best-of-seven Western Conference first round playoff series with a 104-99 win Sunday afternoon at Moda Center.
The streak is over!
The Trail Blazers ended a 10-game playoff losing streak Sunday afternoon with a 104-99 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder at Moda Center.
Damian Lillard led the Blazers scoring a game-high 30 points adding four assists and four rebounds. Lillard scored 14 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter. CJ McCollum scored 24 points after having his minutes restriction lifted following his knee injury. Lillard and McCollum were a combined 8-for-18 from three-point range as the Blazers were plus-18 from beyond the arc. Portland connected on 11-for-25 from downtown while Oklahoma City shot an abysmal 5-for-33.
“We came into this series knowing that we’ve got to be the team that delivers the first blow,” Lillard said. “We’ve got to come out aggressive and make a stand. Regardless if it’s a win or a loss, we made it a point to come out here and be aggressive and just have that attitude of, ‘We’re going to be here all night.’ We did that and we got the first one.”
Enes Kanter was sensational in his first playoff game in a Trail Blazers' uniform. Kanter finished with 20 points and 18 rebounds connecting on 8-of-15 from the field. Kanter is getting the opportunity to compete against his former teammates with the Thunder.
"It did feel very awkward and very weird," Kanter said. "I was very nervous before the game. I tried to talk to Steven [Adams] and he didn't even look at me."
Russell Westbrook finished with a triple-double scoring 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, but Paul George didn't look like himself with a sore right shoulder. George finished with 26 points, but made just 4-of-15 from three-point range.
The Trail Blazers know they will need to do a better job of limiting the open attempts George is able to get in Game two.
“Well, he didn’t shoot the ball well from three and that’s been a big difference in our regular-season games,” Terry Stotts said. “To be honest, I think we gave him too many open three looks and that’s going to be a concern going into Game 2. But he’s a great player and he’s going to get his shot attempts."
Portland led by as many as 19-points in the first half, but the Thunder responded with a run of their own cutting the lead to 93-92 with 2:44 to play. Portland responded with five-straight points on a long three by Lillard and two free throws by Aminu to put the game away.
The Trail Blazers led for all but 23 seconds of the game.
Up Next- Game two between the Thunder and Trail Blazers will be on Tuesday evening at Moda Center. Game is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 PM.
Chad's Take- This series is going to be a grind the entire way just like we saw in Game One. Wow!