Batum Helped Off Court as Blazers Outclass Nuggets

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Monday, November 10, 2014

Andrew R Tonry, GoLocalPDX Contributor

With a firm identity and a whole lot more talent, The Blazers simply outclassed the Nuggets, Sunday at the Moda Center, winning 116-100. 

But in the game's waining minutes Nicolas Batum went down, experiencing pain in his right leg after what appeared to be a mid-air collision. Batum was helped off the court and went straight to the Dr.'s office. 

As of Sunday night he is being evaluated, the prognosis unclear. 

UPDATE: The Oregonian's Joe Freeman reports that an MRI revealed Batum suffered only a knee contusion. He is listed as "questionable" for Tuesday's game.

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ON DISPLAY: Portland's ball movement. The Blazers put on a passing clinic Sunday, as the ball crisply whipped back and forth, always finding the open man. Portland assisted on 27 of their 45 buckets. Denver, meanwhile, managed just 14. 

THE DIFFERENCE: Portland racked up three's while Denver hardly bothered taking them. The Blazers made 16-of-31 attempts from deep to the Nuggets' 5-of-13. In other words: Portland got 48 points from beyond the arc to Denver's 15.

MVP: Wesley Matthews. While no Nugget could muster the defense to bother LaMarcus Aldridge, who scored a game-high 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds, Matthews fueled the Blazers with gritty hustle on both ends, diving for balls, creating turnovers and draining three's. While he took a whopping 13 attempts from behind the arc--making five--Matthews evened things out, making 8-of-19 attempts from the floor. He finished with 21 points, three assists, six rebounds and a whole lot of plays that don't make that stat sheet.

BLOCK PARTY: Chris Kaman had five blocks in 19 minutes. None were better than his peak stuff of JaVale McGee. Since Joel Przybilla back in 2007, Kaman is the first Blazer to tally five blocks off the bench.

FRIGHTENING END: Batum helped off the court. It wasn't clear exactly what happened to Nicolas Batum's right leg in the waining minutes, Sunday. Whether he was kneed, pulled or tweaked something remains unclear, as does where exactly he was hurting--knee, ankle, etc. Whatever it was/is, Batum was clearly in pain, and not wanting to put weight on that right leg.

FIGHT-LIGHT: Steve Blake shoulder-checks Kenneth Faried.

KILLER TWEET:

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