Game Thread GAME# 27: BLAZERS @ THUNDER - FEBRUARY 16, 2021 - TUESDAY, 5:00, NBCSNW (1 Viewer)

[Darkwebs]

2019-20 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
16 - 10
(8-5 Road)
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
11 - 15
(4-8 Home)


_____________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER

SG

GARY TRENT Jr. VS HAMIDOU DIALLO

SF

DERRICK JONES Jr. VS LUGUENTZ DORT

PF

ROBERT COVINGTON VS DARIUS BAZLEY

C

ENES KANTER VS AL HORFORD

------------------------------------------------------

------- JERSEYS -------

--------------------------------------------------------------



WHEN: 5:00 PM (PST), TUESDAY, 2/16/2021

WHERE: CHESAPEAKE ENERGY ARENA, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

------------------------------------------------------




--------------RESERVES--------------
- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS -

SIMONS , BLEVINS

ELLEBY , LITTLE , HOOD

ANTHONY , GILES


- OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER-

MALEDON , JEROME , WILLIAMS

MILLER , JACKSON , HALL

POKUSEVSKI , ROBY

MUSCALA , BROWN





INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Harry Giles III (left calf): QUESTIONABLE
Rodney Hood (left foot soreness): QUESTIONABLE
C.J. McCollum (left foot fracture): OUT
Jusuf Nurkic (right wrist fracture): OUT
Zach Collins (left ankle stress fracture): OUT
THUNDER
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (left knee sprain): QUESTIONABLE
Theo Maledon (health and safety protocols): QUESTIONABLE
George Hill (right thumb): OUT
Trevor Ariza (not with team): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --------------- MARK DAIGNEAULT

OFFICIAL THUNDER'S GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Portland's Feb. 16 game against Oklahoma City is the second meeting between the Trail Blazers and Thunder during the 2020-21 season. The final matchup will come during the Second Half of the season.

• LAST MEETING: The Trail Blazers fell to the Thunder, 122-125 on January 25 at Moda Center. Damian Lillard led Portland with 26 points (8-22 FG, 3-12 3-PT, 7-8 FT), six rebounds and 10 assists, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paced Oklahoma City with 24 points (8-12 FG, 3-4 3-PT, 5-10 FT), nine rebounds, six assists and two blocks.

• Carmelo Anthony added 22 points (9-21 FG, 1-6 3-PT, 3-4 FT), six rebounds, one assist and two blocks in 35 minutes on Jan. 25.

• Mike Muscala scored a season-high 23 points (8-12 FG, 6-10 3-PT, 1-2 FT) to go with two rebounds and one steal against Portland on Jan. 25. He was one point off of his career-high in scoring (24, 3/28/18 vs. MIN).

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Thunder lead, 123-118
PORTLAND HOME: Trail Blazers lead, 77-44
OKLAHOMA CITY HOME: Thunder lead, 79-43

​

 

[Darkwebs]

Blazers have won 7 of their previous 9 games (4 straight, baby!). Have they finally found their footing amidst all the injuries?

Before the season started, the Blazers were considered by pundits to be deep. With the way they have continued winning after Nurk and CJ (and a bunch of other shorter term injuries), that looks to be quite accurate.

OKC's front office may be trying to tank, but the OKC players won't. So this won't be a walkover. However, the Blazers owe this Thunder team a dish of revenge, served cold.

Let's do it!

 

[Pinwheel1]

OKC is decent at home. Big win tonight for them over the Bucks. They shot it very well

 

[tlongII]

Another road game.

 

[BlazerBeav]

Shai being out would be a nice bonus.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Shai being out would be a nice bonus.

They beat Bucks without him

 

[BlazerBeav]

They beat Bucks without him

Meh, the East appears to be garbage all around.

 

[illmatic99]

They're trying so hard to lose but keep winning. Hella competitive. this could go either way, but we need no motivation after our last game against them

 

[SlyPokerDog]

THEY'RE RUINING OUR LOTTERY PICK!

 

[blazerkor]

Regarding the poll question. We've done way better than any of us expected and it's not because CJ and Nurk aren't the second and third most talented players on this team. They are and it's not really close. They just don't play roles that really compliment Dame's game. I'll spare everyone the trade this or that bullshit that I usually get into but I don't think them being a poor fit for Dame and in the Stotts's system or lack thereof can be disputed.

 

[PHXBlazer1]

Their coach is legit

 

[blazerkor]

I know I made this prediction for the Mavs and it wasn't correct but I'm doubling down. We're going to kick the Thunder's asses. You heard it here first. They're getting blown the fuck out. There will be no drama in this game. Dame is going to score 40 in the first three quarters and then sit the fourth. That's my prediction and I'm sticking to it.

 

[Cugel]

They handled the bucks quite well. No easy games.

 

[kjironman1]

What's the word with Giles? Hope this is a simple strain and nothing more.
Little did see the floor last game. Dame made a point of getting him a decent look quick that he made.
The Blazers can get this game. Need another solid shooting night from the entire team.
Watch this game Lillard will get better calls. All depends on who is on the court and who is calling the game.

 

[stampedehero]

2019-20 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
16 - 10
(8-5 Road)
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
11 - 15
(4-8 Home)


_____________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

DAMIAN LILLARD VS SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER

SG

GARY TRENT Jr. VS HAMIDOU DIALLO

SF

DERRICK JONES Jr. VS LUGUENTZ DORT

PF

ROBERT COVINGTON VS DARIUS BAZLEY

C

ENES KANTER VS AL HORFORD

------------------------------------------------------

------- JERSEYS -------

--------------------------------------------------------------



WHEN: 5:00 PM (PST), TUESDAY, 2/16/2021

WHERE: CHESAPEAKE ENERGY ARENA, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

​

------------------------------------------------------




--------------RESERVES--------------
- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS -

SIMONS , BLEVINS

ELLEBY , LITTLE , HOOD

ANTHONY , GILES


- OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER-

MALEDON , JEROME , WILLIAMS

MILLER , JACKSON , HALL

POKUSEVSKI , ROBY

MUSCALA , BROWN





INJURIES
TRAIL BLAZERS
Harry Giles III (left calf): QUESTIONABLE
Rodney Hood (left foot soreness): QUESTIONABLE
C.J. McCollum (left foot fracture): OUT
Jusuf Nurkic (right wrist fracture): OUT
Zach Collins (left ankle stress fracture): OUT
THUNDER
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (left knee sprain): QUESTIONABLE
Theo Maledon (health and safety protocols): QUESTIONABLE
George Hill (right thumb): OUT
Trevor Ariza (not with team): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

TERRY STOTTS --------------- MARK DAIGNEAULT

OFFICIAL THUNDER'S GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

​

DJJ is playing him! Like playing a defensive lineman.

 

[PHXBlazer1]

These dudes are a scrappy as fuck..gonna be a dogfight

 

[illmatic99]

I think the importance of this game is really getting minimized. This year, we have to be the 6th seed or better to avoid having to take part in the play-in. With as bunched up as the west is, tie breakers will become increasingly relevant. And we're only 1-2 in our division so far, while Denver is 5-1. Becomes close to a must win if we want some breathing room later on in the year.

 

[kjironman1]

I think the importance of this game is really getting minimized. This year, we have to be the 6th seed or better to avoid having to take part in the play-in. With as bunched up as the west is, tie breakers will become increasingly relevant. And we're only 1-2 in our division so far, while Denver is 5-1. Becomes close to a must win if we want some breathing room later on in the year.

Every year we look back at some of the losses and say woulda shoulda coulda. This one is just as important for sure. Division games can make or break a team.

 

[TBpup]

Every year we look back at some of the losses and say woulda shoulda coulda. This one is just as important for sure. Division games can make or break a team.

Quite correct. The loss to the 1/2 a Bulls team (with Nurk/CJ) at home comes to mind as does the loss to the 2/3 of a Thunder team also at home, and also to a garbage Rockets team albeit on the road and then the Knicks as well on the road, although the Knicks are better....certainly defensively.

Those first three teams are a combined 32-45...yuck. 1 win against those three put us tied for 4th.2 wins puts us just a game out of 3rd and sweep those inept squads would have 1 game out of the #2 spot.

But I think we are playing better and don't expect to see those types of efforts....at least not nearly as often.

 

[MickZagger]

Must. Win.

 

[Scalma]

Giles is out. Hood is out. That means Melo at center and more minutes for Nas.

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[kjironman1]

Nassir Little and CJ Elleby here you go.
Next man up!

 

[DameLill379]

I'm a little worried about this match up. OKC seems to match up well with us this year. we're going to have to come out with the same shooting rhythm that has won us the last few games because if we have an off shooting night just from say.. Trent or Melo, its going to be hard to make up for that production during the stretch of the second half were we'd most likely need those points to attempt a comeback. key is for Kanter to keep up the excellent work on the glass working the put backs and offensive rebounds & that should at least give us more of an advantage with or without the hot hand shooting. team also doesn't necessarily need to have awesome defense to win this but they at least needs to be able to make key stops. SGA can't have a bucket whenever he wants tomorrow night. I like how we have been shooting collectively so I think we come away with this one like 117-110

 

[blazerkor]

I'm a little worried about this match up. OKC seems to match up well with us this year. we're going to have to come out with the same shooting rhythm that has won us the last few games because if we have an off shooting night just from say.. Trent or Melo, its going to be hard to make up for that production during the stretch of the second half were we'd most likely need those points to attempt a comeback. key is for Kanter to keep up the excellent work on the glass working the put backs and offensive rebounds & that should at least give us more of an advantage with or without the hot hand shooting. team also doesn't necessarily need to have awesome defense to win this but they at least needs to be able to make key stops. SGA can't have a bucket whenever he wants tomorrow night. I like how we have been shooting collectively so I think we come away with this one like 117-110

I still think we'll beat them. The good news is that Muscala isn't too big. So if we just keep Enes in against Horford most of the time, we shouldn't have a big size disadvantage. Who knows if we would have even played Giles very much in this game, given the Thunder's roster. I think we'll still kick their asses.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I still think we'll beat them. The good news is that Muscala isn't too big. So if we just keep Enes in against Horford most of the time, we shouldn't have a big size disadvantage. Who knows if we would have even played Giles very much in this game, given the Thunder's roster. I think we'll still kick their asses.

Yep, you just need to cover Muscala on the perimeter. He has killed us in the past because we leave him open. 6-10 from 3 last game against us.

 

[blazerkor]

Yep, you just need to cover Muscala on the perimeter. He has killed us in the past because we leave him open. 6-10 from 3 last game against us.

Yeah, athleticism on the perimeter is much more crucial in this game than size, unfortunately Melo doesn't really bring either but he will be hard for them to defend.

 

[Hoopguru]

Whats the deal with Naz? Is he hurt again?

 

[SIeepwalker]

Whats the deal with Naz? Is he hurt again?

in the dog house

 

[crandc]

What about weather? Will they have power? Travel?