Portland Trail Blazers overcome Golden State Warriors in nail-biting finish – NBA Recap
Portland Trail Blazers played without star forward LaMarcus Aldridge Wednesday night against Golden State at the Rose Garden, but got a big game from Jamal Crawford to secure the 118-110 victory.
Crawford scored a season high 34 points as Portland cruised to victory. David Lee was the top scorer for the Warriors with 21 points and 14 rebounds.
Portland took the lead with the first shot of the game and then did not trail throughout the first quarter. Golden State however kept at their tail, tying the game 4 times. But, they were unable to take the lead from Portland,
who led 30-25 at the end of the 1st quarter.
Crawford was on fire, scoring 8 consecutive Portland points in the 2nd quarter to give Portland a 41-36 lead with 8:28 remaining in the period. A three pointer by Nicolas Batum extended the Portland lead to 8 with 2:31
left in the first half. Portland finished the half leading 62-55.
Trail Blazers started the 2nd half with a three pointer by Raymond Felton to stretch the lead to 10. Felton followed with a jump shot and Portland went on a 7-3 run capped off by another 3 by Batum to lead 72-58. The
hosts kept a comfortable lead throughout the remaining period of the third quarter and entered the 4th leading 85-75.
The Warriors started the 4th with a 10-2 run to chip away the Portland lead and tie the game at 87. Brandon Rush made a 3 point play after a jump shot by Portland’s J.J Hickson, to give the Warriors the lead for the
1st time in the game.
Portland came back with 6 consecutive points to take the lead back by five. An effort from downtown by Klay Thompson brought the Warriors back within two, but Felton replied with a three pointer for Portland. After more back and
forth action, Wesley Matthews got into the action for Portland, scoring a jump shot and then a 3 pointer. This gave Portland a 114-107 lead, which they sustained and won a nail biting match 118-110.
Crawford was ably assisted by J.J Hickson with 23 points and 13 rebounds, and Wesley Matthews with 18 points for Portland. Raymond Felton added 16 points and dished 10 assists.
Nate Robinson added 19 points and 8 assists off the bench for Golden State, Richard Jefferson had 15 and Brandon Rush added 13 points. The Warriors bench was big for the night, scoring 55 of the 110 points.
Golden State actually shot better than Portland from the field and the three point line. However, Portland went to the foul line 28 times as compared to just 11 for the Warriors, and converted 24 of those attempts.
They also outnumbered the Warriors is rebounds 45-38. Golden State had 27 assists to 17 for Portland. Portland had 68 points from within the paint and reduced Golden State to only 40, showing the advantage Portland had in penetration.
"We lost this game on the defensive end. You give up 118 points and allow them to get into a rhythm ... that's not the brand of defence we've been preaching all year long” said the Warriors coach Mark Jackson.
Portland are keeping their playoff hopes alive, 4 wins behind 8th place Houston Rockets at the moment. They only have a few games left in the season to make their playoff push.
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