10:35 PM EST (NBA) - OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER VS. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS PREVIEW AND FREE PICKS
Time: 10:30 P.M. EST Venue: Moda Center The Portland Trail Blazers seemed to get their offensive mojo back while putting an end to their recent fourth-quarter hiccups. They seek their first season series victory against the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder in five years on Friday night. Portland (37-19) struggled offensively in back-to-back losses after the break, shooting a combined 38.3 percent against Utah and Memphis. It shot 50.6 percent and hit 13 of 26 from 3-point range in a 111-95 win over San Antonio on Wednesday, improving to 29-5 when reaching triple digits. The Trail Blazers also outscored the Spurs 30-24 in the fourth quarter after being outscored 126-87 in the final period of their previous five games." It's important to play, in this league, to play well in the fourth quarter," coach Terry Stotts said. "It's easy to remember the games you don't play in the fourth quarter. They stick out." Portland ranks second in the league with a plus-2.0 scoring margin in the fourth despite their recent slump, while Oklahoma City is near the bottom of the league at minus-1.0. Wesley Matthews scored a season-high 31 and was 4 of 4 from beyond the arc in the final quarter." It took a while, but you've got to keep shooting it," Matthews said. "My teammates were finding me and had confidence in me, and my confidence never wavered." Leading scorer LaMarcus Aldridge had 11 points on 5-of-19 shooting after missing the loss to Memphis with a sprained right thumb. He has averaged 14.3 points while shooting 29.1 percent in his last three games, down from 23.7 on 46.6 previously. Facing Oklahoma City (32-26) at home may help Aldridge get back on track, however, as he has averaged 26.6 points on 50.3 percent shooting in his last eight matchups in Portland. The Trail Blazers had dropped nine of 11 in the series prior to winning the first two this season, beginning with a 106-89 home win in both teams' openers on Oct. 29. They also won 115-111 in overtime at Oklahoma City on Dec. 23 with Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook each scoring 40. Westbrook scored 39 - including 31 in the second half and overtime - and had 14 rebounds with 11 assists Thursday at Phoenix, but the Thunder's winning streak ended at seven in a 117-113 loss. Westbrook, who made 12 shots on a career-high 38 attempts and was 1 of 10 from deep after shooting 49.3 percent in his previous four games, missed a potential game-tying layup with 5.7 seconds left in overtime, rolling his ankle as he took off. It was Westbrook's league-leading fourth triple-double, second in a row and third in 11 games. He's the first to have three in 11 games since Rajon Rondo recorded four in a ten-game stretch from Jan. 5-25, 2013. Westbrook scored 38 in the first meeting with Portland and is averaging 29.4 over his last eight matchups. Oklahoma City allowed Phoenix to shoot 49.5 percent after limiting opponents to 41.5 during its winning streak." We didn't play the defense that we've been playing for a while now," coach Scott Brooks said. " ... You have be able to commit on that end of the floor throughout the game to give yourself a chance to win." Oklahoma City is 9-3 on the second night of back-to-backs, the league's third-best record, with eight straight victories. The 2012-13 Heat were the last team to win nine straight on no days' rest.
You can always view more free picks.
Time: 10:30 P.M. EST Venue: Moda Center The Portland Trail Blazers seemed to get their offensive mojo back while putting an end to their recent fourth-quarter hiccups. They seek their first season series victory against the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder in five years on Friday night. Portland (37-19) struggled offensively in back-to-back losses after the break, shooting a combined 38.3 percent against Utah and Memphis. It shot 50.6 percent and hit 13 of 26 from 3-point range in a 111-95 win over San Antonio on Wednesday, improving to 29-5 when reaching triple digits. The Trail Blazers also outscored the Spurs 30-24 in the fourth quarter after being outscored 126-87 in the final period of their previous five games." It's important to play, in this league, to play well in the fourth quarter," coach Terry Stotts said. "It's easy to remember the games you don't play in the fourth quarter. They stick out." Portland ranks second in the league with a plus-2.0 scoring margin in the fourth despite their recent slump, while Oklahoma City is near the bottom of the league at minus-1.0. Wesley Matthews scored a season-high 31 and was 4 of 4 from beyond the arc in the final quarter." It took a while, but you've got to keep shooting it," Matthews said. "My teammates were finding me and had confidence in me, and my confidence never wavered." Leading scorer LaMarcus Aldridge had 11 points on 5-of-19 shooting after missing the loss to Memphis with a sprained right thumb. He has averaged 14.3 points while shooting 29.1 percent in his last three games, down from 23.7 on 46.6 previously. Facing Oklahoma City (32-26) at home may help Aldridge get back on track, however, as he has averaged 26.6 points on 50.3 percent shooting in his last eight matchups in Portland. The Trail Blazers had dropped nine of 11 in the series prior to winning the first two this season, beginning with a 106-89 home win in both teams' openers on Oct. 29. They also won 115-111 in overtime at Oklahoma City on Dec. 23 with Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook each scoring 40. Westbrook scored 39 - including 31 in the second half and overtime - and had 14 rebounds with 11 assists Thursday at Phoenix, but the Thunder's winning streak ended at seven in a 117-113 loss. Westbrook, who made 12 shots on a career-high 38 attempts and was 1 of 10 from deep after shooting 49.3 percent in his previous four games, missed a potential game-tying layup with 5.7 seconds left in overtime, rolling his ankle as he took off. It was Westbrook's league-leading fourth triple-double, second in a row and third in 11 games. He's the first to have three in 11 games since Rajon Rondo recorded four in a ten-game stretch from Jan. 5-25, 2013. Westbrook scored 38 in the first meeting with Portland and is averaging 29.4 over his last eight matchups. Oklahoma City allowed Phoenix to shoot 49.5 percent after limiting opponents to 41.5 during its winning streak." We didn't play the defense that we've been playing for a while now," coach Scott Brooks said. " ... You have be able to commit on that end of the floor throughout the game to give yourself a chance to win." Oklahoma City is 9-3 on the second night of back-to-backs, the league's third-best record, with eight straight victories. The 2012-13 Heat were the last team to win nine straight on no days' rest.
You can always view more free picks.
