GRADES: After Injury Scare, Blazers Blast the Heat, 99-83
Thursday, January 08, 2015
By intermission, the Blazers had been behind all game, and they'd made just 2-of-their-14 tries from distance. Besides a five point deficit, Portland took with them to the locker room a hobbling Damian Lillard.
Moments earlier, in a scrum for a loose ball, Lillard collided with Dwyane Wade and landed hard on the court. Rolling from his back to his stomach, Lillard wrenched in pain, an arm clasping his lower back.
He stayed on the floor for the majority of the ensuing Blazers possession. Then got up, singled to the bench that he would tough out the remaining seconds of the second quarter. He looked as if he could hardly walk, let alone run.
Returning to the court after the break, Lillard approached the Blazers' bench at the same limping pace. Yet, he would play on.
A few minutes into the third quarter he dribbled up the right side of the floor and, without a moment's hesitation, drained a three in the eye of his defender, from a good five feet behind the three-point line. From Beaverton, as they like to say.
Lillard's basket rang out in the Moda Center like a starter's pistol: from there the Blazers would run away with it.
In the third, Portland blasted Miami, 33-16. The Heat wilted, and the Blazers took it out further, leading by as many as 23--after trailing by as many as 10 early.
It was a fine turnaround, especially in front of a national audience, watching on TNT.
The Blazers, who with 28 wins are now tied with Golden State for the most in the NBA, host the Magic Saturday.
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NICOLAS BATUM: B-
Stop me if you've heard this one before: Batum filled up the box score but couldn't by a bucket--especially from downtown, where his missed all four tries. He finished with eight points, nine rebounds and four assists.
Nicolas Batum's warm up shirt tonight pic.twitter.com/HYtkgXR3dH
— Erik Gundersen (@blazerbanter) January 9, 2015
LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE: A-
Solid effort and execution from Aldridge, who scored early, grabbed a bunch of offensive boards, and kept a handle on Chris Bosh. Aldridge nabbed 24 points, 12 rebounds, six of which were offensive.
CHRIS KAMAN: B
Kaman's second start was better than his first. Then again, he wasn't matched up against a true center (the Heat started Bosh). Still, he was able to play limited minutes (21) he provided 10 and nine.
WESLEY MATTHEWS: A-
Matthews gets extra credit not only suiting up Thursday but being particularly effective considering he was saddled with a knee brace after hyperextending his knee Monday against the Lakers. He nailed 3-of-5 from behind the arc, and 6-of-10 overall, while guarding a Dwyane Wade who looked vintage (at least in the first half before he ran out of gas). Matthews finished with 18 points, two boards and a solid five assists.
DAMIAN LILLARD: C+
While Lillard saved Rip City from heart palpatations by returning to the court in the second half, he was a little off target all game long. He made just 6-of-7 shots (2-of-8 from deep), dished three assists and didn't get a rebound.
MEYERS LEONARD: B-
Leonard wasn't the wonderful surprise he was Monday, but he wasn't a complete buffoon either. For the second time in as many games, Leonard hit the boards hard on both ends. He finished with just four points but snared nine rebounds.
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