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Tuesday, March 19, 2024
March 19, 2024

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Blazers ready for challenge from Thunder

Players feeling good after defeating Spurs on Wednesday

By , Columbian Trail Blazers Writer
Published:

TUALATIN, Ore. — Following what head coach Terry Stotts called a “breakout night,” the Portland Trail Blazers were already looking forward to Friday’s divisional match-up against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Kevin Durant’s season could be in jeopardy, as he is scheduled to get his foot re-evaluated later this week after a procedure to alleviate discomfort in the foot he broke in the preseason. But that hasn’t stopped the supercharged Russell Westbrook from putting up MVP-numbers and the Thunder from winning nine of their last 10 games going into Thursday.

Westbrook had a triple-double in just 28 minutes in Tuesday’s win over Indiana.

“He’s an animal,” Wesley Matthews said. “His relentless attack every single day, every single night. You’ve got to do nothing but respect him. He’s having a hell of a season. He’s shouldering the load on this team. He fought through injuries himself.”

“Russ is playing at an MVP level right now,” Damian Lillard said. “He’s been getting a triple double almost every game. They got a lot of guys playing well. The supporting cast is playing well without (Durant). We are going to be ready for the challenge just like we were last game.”

The Blazers added Arron Afflalo and Alonzo Gee but the Thunder bolstered their roster more than anyone at the trade deadline.

They acquired center Enes Kanter and sharpshooter Steve Novak from Utah as well as Medford-born swingman Kyle Singler from Detroit and back-up point guard D.J. Augustin.

They jettisoned back-up point guard Reggie Jackson and they haven’t missed a beat even though Durant has missed the last few games.

Kanter has scored in double figures in every game so far as a member of the Thunder including a 20-point, 12-rebound outing against the Nuggets on Feb. 22.

The Blazers were six games ahead of the Thunder after Oklahoma City’s 117-113 overtime loss Thursday at Phoenix. A Blazers win would clinch the season series, but a win for the Thunder keeps a little bit of hope alive.

The Blazers’ offense flowed on Wednesday in a 111-98 win over the Spurs unlike any other time this season. It was the Blazers first game all season they shot 50 percent from the 3-point line and from the field, something they did three times last season.

“It was good to have a good shooting night, but I think the most important thing for us was how we got the shots,” Stotts said. “We move the ball well. We missed a lot of good shots that were created by ball movement. We’re a good shooting team and we needed a night like that and it’s something to build on.”

“We didn’t get into the half court,” Lillard said. “We got stops, we got steals, pushed the ball. A lot of it was transition. Moving the ball around, getting 3’s, getting into the paint. We got to understand what allowed us to get the looks that we got.”

The Blazers also showed some positional versatility by playing Afflalo, Nic Batum and Matthews at the same time to match the small line-up the Spurs played.

“We showed a little versatility when they went small, matching up with them,” Stotts said. “There were a lot of things. Defensively I thought we were solid other than the second quarter.”

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Columbian Trail Blazers Writer