Trail Blazers 103, Thunder 93
LaMarcus Aldridge collected 30 points and eight rebounds as the visiting Portland Trail Blazers took advantage of a tired Oklahoma City Thunder team in a 103-93 victory on Tuesday.
Wesley Matthews added 16 points and Gerald Wallace bounced back from a scoreless performance with 13 points and 10 boards for the Blazers, who shot 29 of 36 from the free throw line.
The Thunder, who were playing their seventh game in 10 days and the second of a back-to-back set, dropped their second straight after beginning the season 5-0.
Oklahoma City led 53-51 at the half but could not muster the same energy after the break as Portland took control. Aldridge scored four points during an 11-3 run in the third that gave the Blazers the lead for good.
The Thunder would draw as close as 81-79 early in the fourth but an 11-3 burst stretched it to double figures for Portland. Aldridge’s jumper with 2:46 made it 98-86 and allowed the Blazers to coast to the finish.
James Harden scored 23 points and Russell Westbrook added 22 points, eight assists and six rebounds for Oklahoma City but Kevin Durant struggled to 19 points on 8-of-26 shooting.