In a 12-minute span that bled into the final quarter of Tuesday’s 126-121 road win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, Trail Blazers fans caught a glimpse of just how potent Portland can be when playing to its full potential.
After trailing 67-61 at halftime, the Blazers took charge in the third quarter behind the efforts of Damian Lillard, Allen Crabbe and Meyers Leonard. The visitors outscored Oklahoma City 38-25 in the quarter with the aforementioned trio combining for 25 points as the Trail Blazers shot 59% in the quarter. When they did miss, Portland grabbed four offensive rebounds, three of which landed in the hands of Noah Vonleh, to create 11 second-chance points.
But perhaps the most pleasing aspect for the Blazers was at the other end of the floor. For a team that has struggled throughout the season on the defensive end, ranking 27th in the NBA with 109.2 points allowed per 100 possessions, Portland held the Thunder to 38% from the field in the corner while forcing four turnovers.
“Defensively, we had a much better presence,” Lillard said of the team’s play in the quarter. “They made a lot of midrange jumpers and they made a lot of shots in the area, but I think we were really physical. Sometimes it led to us fouling, but we were there. Also, moving the ball on the offensive end. When we got stops, we were able to push it at them, move the ball around and knock down shots.
“We built a lead from there, and I think we pretty much held it down from then on.”
Though the bulk of his damage came in the second and fourth quarters, guard CJ McCollum felt the tide of the game begin to shift with a 14-2 run to begin the second quarter that carried over to start the second half.
“Even in the second quarter, we moved the ball and Meyers had some good looks,” McCollum explained.” He made some shots, he was big for us. AC was huge coming off pin-downs, making shots. Shabazz [Napier] passed the ball well. I thought overall, we were in the flow offense, we were in a continuity and when we get stops, it makes the game that much easier.”
Tuesday’s triumph marked a third consecutive win for Portland and a fourth victory in six games since the All-Star break. A game-and-a-half back of the eight and final playoff seed in the Western Conference with a friendly 12 of their final 20 games of the season coming at home, the Blazers hope their performance the third quarter in Tuesday’s win at Oklahoma City is a sign of things to come in the final weeks of the 2016-17 campaign.
“The fact that we were able to come out, play through the adversity of the game — get behind, build a lead then come back and be able to grind it out — I think it said a lot about just where we are in the moment right now,” Lillard said.
“We put on a show in that third quarter,” Crabbe agreed. “We did everything we needed to do. I feel we’re going in the direction we need to be in right now, just get all the wins we can right now before the playoffs start.”