Trail Blazers at Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are on a roll and aim to win their sixth
consecutive game when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.
Oklahoma City is allowing just 93 points during its winning
streak and is becoming proficient in the methods preferred by first-year
coach Billy Donovan.
The Thunder defeated the Utah Jazz in each of their last two games and rallied from a 16-point deficit to notch a 104-98 overtime victory in the latter contest. Oklahoma City has to be careful not to overlook Portland with a nationally televised road game against the Cleveland Cavaliers looming on Thursday. Portland point guard Damian Lillard is enjoying another strong season and had 30 points in Monday's 105-101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Lillard is averaging 25.4 points in eight games this month and has scored 23 or more points in six of them.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, KGW (Portland), FSN Oklahoma (Oklahoma City)
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (11-15): Backup shooting guard Gerald Henderson has been a disappointment as the prime player acquired in the offseason deal that sent Nicolas Batum to the Charlotte Hornets but emerged for 19 points in 21 minutes in the victory over the Pelicans. Henderson missed the first eight games after offseason hip surgery and returned to see that C.J. McCollum was entrenched as a starter and has been unable to secure consistent minutes. "It's not something I'm used to - not something I'm used to at all," Henderson told reporters after matching his career high of four 3-pointers. "And I can't particularly say I like it."
ABOUT THE THUNDER (16-8): Forward Kevin Durant had 31 points in Sunday's win over Utah but only two of them came in the first half. Durant exploded after halftime with 17 third-quarter points as Oklahoma City rallied to get back into the contest and eventually win it. "Give him credit," Thunder coach Billy Donovan said afterward. "He kept his composure the whole entire game. He was really positive in the locker room when we're down 13. Kevin wants to win and he came out and really responded. He got going right away."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Trail Blazers won three of last season's four meetings.
2. Oklahoma City PG Russell Westbrook is averaging 24 points over the past three games and has 20 20-point outings this season.
3. Portland C Mason Plumlee had 15 points and 13 rebounds against New Orleans for his seventh double-double of the campaign.