Thunder at Trail Blazers
The Oklahoma City Thunder continue their push for homecourt advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs on Friday when they visit the injury-plagued Portland Trail Blazers, who have lost nine straight. Oklahoma City, which took a half-game lead over second-place San Antonio with a 116-97 win at Golden State on Thursday, finishes the regular season with home games against Sacramento and Milwaukee after facing the Trail Blazers.
The Thunder have won six in a row against Portland, including all three meetings this season. The Trail Blazers started four rookies for the first time in franchise history on Wednesday, when they lost 113-106 to the Lakers. Portland has dropped six consecutive home games, tying the franchise record. Damian Lillard went toe-to-toe with Kobe Bryant and scored a career-high 38 points against the Lakers, but he’s been held to an average of 16.3 points in three games against Oklahoma City this season.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Oklahoma, Comcast SportsNet Northwest (Portland)
ABOUT THE THUNDER (58-21): Portland has been unable to slow down Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in three previous games this season, with Durant averaging 26.7 points and 10.3 rebounds and Westbrook checking in at 23.7 points, eight assists and 5.7 rebounds. Forward Serge Ibaka enters the contest on a high note after shooting 66.7 percent over the past six games, but center Kendrick Perkins is questionable after leaving Thursday’s game with hamstring tightness.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (33-45): Portland has struggled mightily in recent weeks, but Lillard’s drive toward the Rookie of the Year award remains as strong as ever. One of 39 players in the NBA to play in every game this season, Lillard leads all rookies in scoring (19.1) and assists (6.5). The Trail Blazers will likely be without injured starters Nicolas Batum (shoulder) and Wesley Matthews (ankle) against Oklahoma City, and center J.J. Hickson (back) is listed as a game-time decision.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Five of the last six games played at the Rose Garden between the two teams have been decided by single digits.
2. Oklahoma City is 9-5 on the second night of a back-to-back this season.
3. Lillard is six 3-pointers shy of breaking the franchise record for most makes in a season, 181, set by Damon Stoudamire in 2004-05.