| 27 March 2011
Gerald Wallace had his best game as a Portland Trail Blazer, but his team couldn't find a way past the Russell Westbrook-led Oklahoma City Thunder, falling 99-90 in extremely disappointing fashion.
Blazers lack balance as Thunder take 12-point halftime lead
Portland has been used to getting solid production out of at least Wallace, LaMarcus Aldridge, Andre Miller, Nicolas Batum, and Wesley Matthews. Those five have been their most consistent players, and when they all score the Blazers have usually been in contention. After sticking close in the first quarter, the Blazers were significantly ouplayed in the second due to their lack of balance offensively. Aldridge and Wallace both shot 5-9 from the field in the first half, combining for 24 points. The rest of the team had 17 points on 7-21 shooting, an unacceptable total going against a very good team.
Matthews and Batum, who was hobbled late in the second quarter due to a leg injury, were particularly quiet. They combined to shoot 2-10 from the field in the first half, including 1-5 from three-point range. They committed four turnovers, didn't grab a rebound, and Matthews had the only assist between them. Portland's lack of all-around play didn't bode well against the effort put forth by all of the Thunder.
Portland's defense struggles against Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook
Oklahoma City's biggest weapons were kept off the foul-line in the first half, but the positives stopped there in relation to the Blazers defense. Durant had 15 first-half points, nine of which coming on three wide-open three-pointers. Westbrook's penetration and six assists fueled much of the spacing for Durant. Much of their damage done was simply a testament to how talented they are, but considering the drop-off in scoring potential after these two, Portland's defense was severely lacking.
Serge Ibaka continued to emerge as the third scorer they lost in trading Jeff Green to the Boston Celtics, as he was once more equipped with a mid-range jumper and aggressiveness towards the rim. He had 12 points at halftime, making all six of his field goals.
Blazers storm back in third behind Wallace's eruption, and Crash remains hot in fourth
With their hero against the San Antonio Spurs, Nicolas Batum, on the exercise bike, Portland continued to rely heavily on Aldridge and Wallace while also hoping their aforementioned supporting cast would chip in when needed. It turned out they didn't need much more than Aldridge and Wallace to climb back into contention. But they would to prevail.
Wallace fueled a 7-0 run to begin the third quarter and remained hot for the rest of the game. He teamed up with Aldridge to score 23 of Portland's 31 third-quarter points, scoring 15 in a variety of ways. He posted up, hit bank shots, drained three-pointers, and was similarly active defensively by continuously drawing offensive fouls. Wallace's play in large part helped Portland tie the game at 69 late in the third then remain close throughout the fourth quarter.
On the night he had 40 points, a season high and two off his career-high. He shot 16-28 from the field, grabbed seven rebounds, affected many Thunder shots, and drew an astounding seven offensive fouls.
Aldridge added 20 points, but the rest of the team only had 30 on 11-36 shooting.
Three-point shooting differential pivotal as Westbrook seals win
A very important stat that helped Oklahoma City maintain an advantage and eventually win was their nine three-pointers compared to Portland's two. The referees may have missed a foul here and there, but the Blazers didn't execute as the Thunder proved why they are 6 1/2 games ahead of their oppoent in the standings. Westbrook, who finished with 28 points, hit the dagger, the last of Oklahoma City's three-pointers with 21 seconds left.
His clutch play late has Portland hoping they can put the frustrating loss behind them and bounce back with another win over the Spurs.
photo: espn
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