Rapid Reaction: Portland 111, Oklahoma City 107 (OT)

Oklahoma City Thunder

111

Final Recap | Box Score

107

Portland Trail Blazers

	Gerald Wallace, SF 38 MIN | 2-9 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 4 AST | 4 PTS | -1 When the Blazers went into Oklahoma City in January and beat the Thunder, Gerald Wallace had 13 points and 10 boards. Monday’s performance—half as productive as in the team’s first meeting—left much to be desired. As you know by now, when Gerald Wallace paves the way the Blazers follow…
	LaMarcus Aldridge, PF 44 MIN | 14-28 FG | 11-11 FT | 6 REB | 3 AST | 39 PTS | -4 I’d be remiss to totally dismiss 39 points because of a bad play or two, but Aldridge’s deferring to Kurt Thomas on the Blazers’ penultimate play is a pretty substantial knock. It almost seems as if Aldridge wanted to offload the responsibility of the big shot. The Thunder have two guys who salivate for those kind of moments. Do the Blazers have one? Also, a few more rebounds would’ve gone a long way.
	Marcus Camby, C 32 MIN | 4-11 FG | 0-0 FT | 15 REB | 3 AST | 8 PTS | -10 The only Blazer who could seem to get his hands on a rebound, Monday.
	Jamal Crawford, G 45 MIN | 6-18 FG | 3-3 FT | 2 REB | 5 AST | 17 PTS | 0 Inserted into the starting lineup in place of an injured Ray Felton, Crawford doesn’t really get himself going, nor the team around him. Plays a whopping 45 minutes and scores 17 points but it takes 18 shots to get there. Also, like Aldridge, Crawford bungles a few plays down the stretch. On defense, fails to body up Westbrook, who pulls down 11 rebounds for the OKC.
	Wesley Matthews, G 36 MIN | 6-9 FG | 4-5 FT | 3 REB | 4 AST | 18 PTS | -1 Considering Matthews’ recent struggles, this one looks like a relative bright spot. Got a rare dunk, but still not truly on track from three point land.
	Nolan Smith, G 8 MIN | 1-3 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 1 AST | 2 PTS | -2 Despite the opportunity for Smith, a result of Felton’s injury, Coach McMillan keeps the reigns tight. A rookie—and especially a rookie point guard—needs a little more time to settle in if they’re going to be effective.

Two Things We Saw

1. Aldridge’s phantom, game-swinging goaltend aside, the lengthy Thunder’s multiple, wicked blocks expose something the Blazers are lacking: tenacious defense around the rim.
2. Oklahoma City had three players to pull down double-digit rebounds. After Marcus Camby’s game-high 15, the Blazers had no other player with more than six. And with the Thunder winning the rebound battle 59-39 the Blazers were lucky to even have a chance compete.