Thunder at Trail Blazers
The Oklahoma City Thunder look to complete a four-game season sweep of Portland when they visit the Trail Blazers on Thursday. All-Star forward Paul George averaged 40 points in the three victories with a high of 47.
George (shoulder) returned from a three-game absence in Tuesday's 131-120 road loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves and was 8-of-25 shooting while scoring 25 points. "I felt the rhythm was off, missing three games," George told reporters afterward. "A little rusty. The rhythm was off a little bit, not only for myself but just the rhythm with my guys out there. I feel fine. ... The shoulder held up." Portland returns home for a brief two-game stay after a 5-2 road trip ended with a disappointing 120-111 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. The Trail Blazers led by as many as 16 points in the opening quarter but ran out of gas in the final stanza when they were outscored 38-25.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT; FS Oklahoma, NBCS Northwest (Portland)
ABOUT THE THUNDER (39-25): Oklahoma City has dropped five of its last six games and the defense was an issue against the Timberwolves, who scored 30 or more points in three of the four quarters. "More often than not, we gave up too many easy things," Thunder coach Billy Donovan told reporters afterward. "We did not contain the ball one-on-one. We had a hard time guarding them one-on-one off the dribble. We got beat on a constant basis." Point guard Russell Westbrook poured in 38 points after failing to score more than 23 points in the previous four games.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (39-25): Portland appeared to be en route to achieving the best seven-game road trip in franchise history but the early momentum evaporated while guard Mike Conley was scoring a career-best 40 points for Memphis. "I think we all have been in the league long enough to know that just because you start a game well doesn't mean that it is going to continue to be that way," standout point guard Damian Lillard told reporters. "It is kind of a battle against getting complacent and thinking what you did is going to stay that way, and it was easy forgetting what you did to be in that position, and also understanding that it's the NBA, teams can go on runs." Lillard scored 24 points in the contest while shooting guard CJ McCollum led the way with 27.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Thunder halted an eight-game losing streak in Portland by posting a 111-109 victory Jan. 4.
2. Lillard is averaging 29.3 points against Oklahoma City this season and has topped 30 twice.
3. Oklahoma City C Steven Adams has recorded four straight double-doubles and is averaging 13.5 points and 15 rebounds during the stretch.