Portland storms back to win home opener, 88-86
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Brandon Roy had 16 points, 8 assists and 4 rebounds to help pace Portland to victory.
By Jim Taylor
TrailBlazers.com
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Juan Dixon's three-pointer with 6.2 left proved to be the game winner as Portland up-ended the Minnesota Timberwolves, 88-86, in the Trail Blazers' home opener Saturday night at the Rose Garden.
Portland struggled to find their game early on and trailed by as many 16 points before Martell Webster buried a three-pointer to knot things up at 74 with 9:47 left in the game. Webster hit another three on the Blazers next possession giving Portland their first lead of the night, 77-74. It was a seesaw battle the rest of the way with both teams exchanging buckets until Dixon’s game-wining shot.
"On the last play I told Brandon (Roy) just to drive hard to the hoop," said Blazers coach Nate McMillan. "We had Martell in one corner and Juan in the other, and I knew if Brandon got cut off on his drive to the basket, he would make it happen. As it turned out, he saw Dixon in the corner for that 3-point shot.''
Minnesota had a chance to tie the game in the closing moments, but Kevin Garnett's 8-foot jumper at the buzzer fell short. Garnett finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds for T-Wolves.
"In three of the last four possessions, we got the shot we wanted," said Minnesota coach Dwayne Casey. "Now whether it goes in or not, that’s another thing. I thought the last look was a pretty good look by Kevin in the post. We got the ball where we wanted it to go."
Travis Outlaw had an outstanding effort off the bench for Portland with 18 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Webster also had a fine performance off the bench for Portland with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting including 4-of-5 from three-point range.
"This was a big win for us for several reasons," added McMillan. "I told them this morning (at shoot-around) that we would be playing before a sellout crowd. It was a chance to establish an identity for ourselves and the fans. I just told them to scrap, play together and have fun. I thought Travis Outlaw’s play was the difference tonight. What a great effort. I didn’t think he played very aggressively last night at Golden State, but I told them all, ‘We’re not waiting on you.’ I thought Travis tonight attacked the basket, played aggressively and shot well.
"I really like the fact that we had an attitude tonight. We needed something good to happen to give us confidence and from the second quarter on we played like that."
A total of five Trail Blazers scored in doubled figures. Roy finished with 16 points, eight assists and four rebounds, while Zach Randolph had 17 points and seven boards. Dixon, who struggled from the field, but hit the all-important game winner, ended up with 10 on 4-of-11 shooting.
"I'm not going to stop shooting,'' said Dixon. "The opportunity presented itself and I was able to knock it down.''
It was a dramatic night all the way around for the sellout crowd of more than 20,000. Portland’s Storm Large of "Rock Star Supernova" fame sang the national anthem. Moments later the new 2006-07 Trail Blazers team was introduced with the players entering the entryways off the main concourse and as they descended the Rose Garden stairs toward the floor slapped high fives with fans standing along the aisles. The young Blazers struggled early and the fans were a little restless and uneasy as they saw the home team fall behind quickly. But the Blazers kept scrapping and clawing their way back and when Webster hit his two three’s late in the game the building erupted.
"When Brandon Roy started getting in the pick and roll they got it going," said Timberwolves guard Mike James who finished with 19. "We didn’t make the adjustments. They started making plays and we weren’t making plays. The crowd got behind them and they got some momentum there in the second half. This game is about making plays and that’s the bottom line.
The win improved the Trail Blazer record to 2-1. It was Minnesota’s first loss of the season as they fall to 2-1. It was the sixth straight home-opening win for Portland who was playing without starting center Joel Przybilla. Przybilla suffered a lower abdominal injury the night before in the loss at Golden State. Jamaal Magloire started in place of Przybilla.
Portland now travels to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers Monday night and then is back home Wednesday night where Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers make their only Rose Garden appearance of the season.
Jim Taylor is senior editor of TrailBlazers.com. He also has his own blog at www.blazersevangelist.com.
TrailBlazers.com
Half-time Highlights (audio podcast) || Post-Game Highlights (audio podcast)
Juan Dixon's three-pointer with 6.2 left proved to be the game winner as Portland up-ended the Minnesota Timberwolves, 88-86, in the Trail Blazers' home opener Saturday night at the Rose Garden.
Portland struggled to find their game early on and trailed by as many 16 points before Martell Webster buried a three-pointer to knot things up at 74 with 9:47 left in the game. Webster hit another three on the Blazers next possession giving Portland their first lead of the night, 77-74. It was a seesaw battle the rest of the way with both teams exchanging buckets until Dixon’s game-wining shot.
"On the last play I told Brandon (Roy) just to drive hard to the hoop," said Blazers coach Nate McMillan. "We had Martell in one corner and Juan in the other, and I knew if Brandon got cut off on his drive to the basket, he would make it happen. As it turned out, he saw Dixon in the corner for that 3-point shot.''
Minnesota had a chance to tie the game in the closing moments, but Kevin Garnett's 8-foot jumper at the buzzer fell short. Garnett finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds for T-Wolves.
"In three of the last four possessions, we got the shot we wanted," said Minnesota coach Dwayne Casey. "Now whether it goes in or not, that’s another thing. I thought the last look was a pretty good look by Kevin in the post. We got the ball where we wanted it to go."
Travis Outlaw had an outstanding effort off the bench for Portland with 18 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Webster also had a fine performance off the bench for Portland with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting including 4-of-5 from three-point range.
"This was a big win for us for several reasons," added McMillan. "I told them this morning (at shoot-around) that we would be playing before a sellout crowd. It was a chance to establish an identity for ourselves and the fans. I just told them to scrap, play together and have fun. I thought Travis Outlaw’s play was the difference tonight. What a great effort. I didn’t think he played very aggressively last night at Golden State, but I told them all, ‘We’re not waiting on you.’ I thought Travis tonight attacked the basket, played aggressively and shot well.
"I really like the fact that we had an attitude tonight. We needed something good to happen to give us confidence and from the second quarter on we played like that."
A total of five Trail Blazers scored in doubled figures. Roy finished with 16 points, eight assists and four rebounds, while Zach Randolph had 17 points and seven boards. Dixon, who struggled from the field, but hit the all-important game winner, ended up with 10 on 4-of-11 shooting.
"I'm not going to stop shooting,'' said Dixon. "The opportunity presented itself and I was able to knock it down.''
It was a dramatic night all the way around for the sellout crowd of more than 20,000. Portland’s Storm Large of "Rock Star Supernova" fame sang the national anthem. Moments later the new 2006-07 Trail Blazers team was introduced with the players entering the entryways off the main concourse and as they descended the Rose Garden stairs toward the floor slapped high fives with fans standing along the aisles. The young Blazers struggled early and the fans were a little restless and uneasy as they saw the home team fall behind quickly. But the Blazers kept scrapping and clawing their way back and when Webster hit his two three’s late in the game the building erupted.
"When Brandon Roy started getting in the pick and roll they got it going," said Timberwolves guard Mike James who finished with 19. "We didn’t make the adjustments. They started making plays and we weren’t making plays. The crowd got behind them and they got some momentum there in the second half. This game is about making plays and that’s the bottom line.
The win improved the Trail Blazer record to 2-1. It was Minnesota’s first loss of the season as they fall to 2-1. It was the sixth straight home-opening win for Portland who was playing without starting center Joel Przybilla. Przybilla suffered a lower abdominal injury the night before in the loss at Golden State. Jamaal Magloire started in place of Przybilla.
Portland now travels to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers Monday night and then is back home Wednesday night where Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers make their only Rose Garden appearance of the season.
Jim Taylor is senior editor of TrailBlazers.com. He also has his own blog at www.blazersevangelist.com.
