- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Expect fireworks when the Oklahoma City Thunder travel west to face the Portland Trail Blazers. Join The Roar from 12 midday (AEST) for live score updates.
Not every NBA game features four of the league’s premier scorers – this one does.
Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum each average over 20 points per game, with Durant just edging out Lillard to be third and fifth respectively in the NBA.
While they practically always have great games, any one of them is able to go off on any given night. If they do, they will go a long way to helping their team get a win.
The key match-up here is Westbrook squaring off against Lillard. Westbrook loves nothing more than driving past his man and unleashing a ferocious dunk. Lillard enjoys crossing you up and shooting a fadeaway. Both are phenomenal on a basketball. Westbrook likely has the advantage defensively though, with his strength and quick hands (equal second in NBA for steals).
Both teams started the season off shakily – Portland more so – yet have turned that around to post impressive seasons.
OKC have won ten of their last 12 games. Both losses came away from home, and they are travelling today, but they have looked truly dominant at times. They have all but locked up third in the West and need to enter the playoffs with as much confidence as possible if they hope to knock off the Spurs or Warriors.
Terry Stotts deserves praise for guiding Portland to the season they have had – not many teams could lose four starters and make the post-season the next year. The Trail Blazers have separated themselves from the playoff fight that Utah, Dallas and Houston currently find themselves in, and should finish sixth when the regular season ends.
At this stage the Thunder would fancy themselves as a title contender, while Portland are likely just happy to be there. All things being equal, as much should show in this game.
Durant and Westbrook are top five players in the league, and if one gets locked up the other can step in – you can’t double team both. Add to this Serge Ibaka’s defensive skills down low and they are a tough unit to crack.
Lillard is undeniably brilliant, however he doesn’t have the same quality around him.
Portland has the chance to even up the season series with a win here, OKC lead 2-1.
Prediction
It should be a cracker of a game – one I see the Thunder taking, despite being on the road.
Thunder by 7
Build your own ultimate team! Pick your key players and take a shot at big cash prizes every day with Draftstars. For great odds on NBA games every day head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.