Game Thread GAME# 39: THUNDER @ BLAZERS - JANUARY 4, 2019 - FRIDAY, 7:30 PM, ESPN & NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2018-19 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
23 - 13
(10-9 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
22 - 16
(14-6 Home)

______________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

RUSSELL WESTBROOK VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

TERRANCE FERGUSON VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

PAUL GEORGE VS MOE HARKLESS

PF

JERAMI GRANT VS AL-FAROUQ AMINU

C

STEVEN ADAMS VS JUSUF NURKIC

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WHEN: 7:30 PM (PST), FRIDAY, 1/4/2019

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

AND

RADIO BROADCAST:

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--------------BENCH--------------

-- OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER --

FELTON , SCHRODER , DIALLO

ABRINES , BURTON , LUWAWU-CABARROT

NADER , GRANTHAM

PATTERSON , NOEL

---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

CURRY , BALDWIN , SIMONS

TURNER , STAUSKAS , TRENT Jr.

LAYMAN , SWANIGAN

COLLINS , LEONARD



INJURIES
THUNDER
Andre Roberson (left patellar tendon): OUT
Alex Abrines (personal): QUESTIONABLE
TRAIL BLAZERS
Moe Harkless (left knee): QUESTIONABLE



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

BILLY DONOVAN --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL THUNDER'S GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Friday’s game marks the first of four meetings between the Trail Blazers and the Thunder during the 2018-19 season. Portland swept the season series in 2017-18, 4-0.

• LAST MEETING: The Trail Blazers outlasted the Thunder, 108-105 in Oklahoma City on March 25. CJ McCollum led the Trail Blazers with 34 points (14-24 FG, 5-9 3-PT, 1-2 FT) to go with four rebounds, four assists and a steal while Russell Westbrook paced the Thunder with 23 points (9-20 FG, 1-2 3-PT, 4-6 FT), eight rebounds, nine assists and four steals.

• In four games against the Thunder last season, CJ McCollum averaged 27.8 points (53.8% FG, 45.2% 3-PT, 91.7% FT), 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

• Damian Lillard averaged 26.7 points (38.2% FG, 20.0% 3-PT, 97.1% FT), 4.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.33 steals in three games against the Thunder last season.

• Russell Westbrook averaged 25.0 points (39.6% FG, 30.0% 3-PT, 60.0% FT), 8.5 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 2.25 steals in four games against the Trail Blazers last season.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Series tied, 116-116
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 77-40
AT THE THUNDER: Thunder lead, 76-39

 

[Darkwebs]

What a way to start the new year! Blazers came back from down 9 with about 3 minutes left in the 4th quarter to tie the game and then defeat the Kings in OT. Overall, the Blazers went on a 22-7 run to end that game. Jusuf went Nurklear with a 24/23/7/5/5 stat line. Dame, UNDER the weather, brought us to OVERtime with the last 2 buckets of regulation.

Having won 2 in a row and 7 of their last 10, the Blazers now look to continue their roll with a matchup against their Northwest Division rival, the OKC Thunder, who are currently 3rd in the West and are 2 games ahead of the Blazers. Blazers are 6th in the West, so this is a pivotal game they must win in order to climb the standings for a better seed in the Playoffs. Last year, Portland swept the season series against OKC (and have actually won 6 straight head-to-head meetings), but the Thunder have been gelling really well this season, so this will be a tough battle.

In addition, this will be the Blazers' first ESPN broadcast since their humiliating loss on Christmas night. So they need this win as redemption for that lump of coal they left in Porltand fans' stockings.

 

[KingSpeed]

We are 5th in the West

 

[DUB]

Nurkic won’t be able to bully Adams like he has the last few centres he’s faced. It will be interesting to see how Stotts uses Nurkic, and how Nurkic copes with whatever challenges he faces.

 

[theprunetang]

Nurkic won’t be able to bully Adams like he has the last few centres he’s faced. It will be interesting to see how Stotts uses Nurkic, and how Nurkic copes with whatever challenges he faces.

Hopefully lots of kick outs to open shooters.

 

[DUB]

Hopefully lots of kick outs to open shooters.

The challenge of matching up against a strong, defensively skilled, big man is one type of challenge Nurkic may face.

Another may be a challenge we all here may have to face. The challenge of dealing with the frustration of Stotts not trusting Nurkic in this matchup, and going away from him.

 

[James lamphear]

In the past Nurk has got Adams in foul trouble due to Adams can't bullied Nurk like he has with other center. If Nurk has a big game then he has come in his own for sure. I think the reason why we do so good against OKC is we match up well against them. We actually got players that match up with Paul George in Harkless and Aminu.

 

[Chris Craig]

Stotts needs to keep going to Nurk regardless of Adams. Nurk can get Adams in foul trouble. He can get under Adams skin easy. I can see there being a scuffle as these two teams like to get intense. CJ needs to come out shooting and not fall back into his slump. He hit some shots against the Kings, but looked all together like he was falling back to Earth from his hot shooting night against the 76ers. Lillard will have a few days to rest off the flu, so he should be ready Friday. If Hark plays like he did last night on Friday Blazers should be good. Aminu needs to practice shooting those 3s. The bench needs to get it together. We got this.

 

[Bruno_Sabino]

Another big game. It’s time to make our run

 

[James lamphear]

If you guys haven't noticed when CJ have big scoring night the next game is not so good in shooting the ball. He still struggling from the 3 line this year.

 

[THE HCP]

If you guys haven't noticed when CJ have big scoring night the next game is not so good in shooting the ball. He still struggling from the 3 line this year.

Give it a rest. Enjoy the tough road win. It's not like CJ WANTS to miss shots.

 

[Jade Falcon]

Nurkic won’t be able to bully Adams like he has the last few centres he’s faced. It will be interesting to see how Stotts uses Nurkic, and how Nurkic copes with whatever challenges he faces.

This was exactly my very first thought as well. I hope he keeps his head in the game and adjusts himself accordingly if he starts to lose in the paint.

 

[tlongII]

Man I REALLY want this one!

 

[Blazer4ever]

If Mo doesn't play we don't have a chance. Him on Paul George is one of the keys to the game. The other key (or question mark) is how well are we going to defend Westbrook and Schroeder.

 

[riverman]

Beating the Thunder you just let Westbrook shoot every shot at the end of the game....works everytime

 

[Pinwheel1]

Why what is wrong with Moe? We don't play until Friday.

 

[BigGameDamian]

I really believe that we could have had Paul George before Indiana traded him to OKC. If Neil would have been willing to take the risk by putting CJ in a trade for PG-13. I don't just blame Neil though I have always thought Paul was a little gun shy also. Sometimes you just have to take a risk.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Why what is wrong with Moe? We don't play until Friday.

He's unreliable.

 

[stampedehero]

Stotts needs to keep going to Nurk regardless of Adams. Nurk can get Adams in foul trouble. He can get under Adams skin easy. I can see there being a scuffle as these two teams like to get intense. CJ needs to come out shooting and not fall back into his slump. He hit some shots against the Kings, but looked all together like he was falling back to Earth from his hot shooting night against the 76ers. Lillard will have a few days to rest off the flu, so he should be ready Friday. If Hark plays like he did last night on Friday Blazers should be good. Aminu needs to practice shooting those 3s. The bench needs to get it together. We got this.

@Chris Craig aka Mr. Positive!~

 

[THE HCP]

If Mo doesn't play we don't have a chance. Him on Paul George is one of the keys to the game. The other key (or question mark) is how well are we going to defend Westbrook and Schroeder.

Why would Moe not play?

 

[James lamphear]

Give it a rest. Enjoy the tough road win. It's not like CJ WANTS to miss shots.

Just point it out about him. I will give it a rest when I see him not being one demenisional for this team.

 

[BonesJones]

If Mo doesn't play we don't have a chance. Him on Paul George is one of the keys to the game. The other key (or question mark) is how well are we going to defend Westbrook and Schroeder.

He played yesterday so why wouldn't he play Friday? But playing along with this silly post....

Yeah theres no way a team that got up 43 against a Jimmy Butler and Ben Simmons led team can beat a Paul George led team.

No chance.

 

[BonesJones]

I really believe that we could have had Paul George before Indiana traded him to OKC. If Neil would have been willing to take the risk by putting CJ in a trade for PG-13. I don't just blame Neil though I have always thought Paul was a little gun shy also. Sometimes you just have to take a risk.

How do you know he didn't?........ You don't.

 

[BonesJones]

He's unreliable.

Facepalm.

His defense has been great and very reliable.

 

[Chris Craig]

Westbrook is averaging a triple double wtf?

21 pts 10.7 rbs, 10.1 assists

10+ assists? WTF? The biggest ballhogger in existence is getting 10.1 assists a game?

 

[THE HCP]

Westbrook is averaging a triple double wtf?

21 pts 10.7 rbs, 10.1 assists

10+ assists? WTF? The biggest ballhogger in existence is getting 10.1 assists a game?

Now remind me......this is bad right?

 

[BonesJones]

Westbrook is averaging a triple double wtf?

21 pts 10.7 rbs, 10.1 assists

10+ assists? WTF? The biggest ballhogger in existence is getting 10.1 assists a game?

More like dribble constantly until you get a shot or you can get a teammate a look they'll definitely shoot even if team-oriented offense could produce a better shot (because that would mean less assists for Russ and we already know he stat chases).

 

[riverman]

Now remind me......this is bad right?

I was wondering if he has the most triple doubles in losses in NBA history

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I was wondering if he has the most triple doubles in losses in NBA history

Not at all. In fact, he only has 21 losses in the 114 games in which he's recorded a triple double, which is fewer than Magic's 30, Kidd's 31, and Big O's 48. His .8158 winning percentage in triple-double games is actually 4th best amongst the top-10 triple-doubler's in NBA history, and is better than the two people with more than him, Oscar (.7257) and Magic (.7826).

 

[oldmangrouch]

Westbrook is averaging a triple double wtf?

21 pts 10.7 rbs, 10.1 assists

10+ assists? WTF? The biggest ballhogger in existence is getting 10.1 assists a game?

I would be curious to see his APG broken down by quarter.