Thunder Struggles Against Trail Blazers, Failing to Win in Tight Finish

Originally Published: Mar 28, 2010 7:21 PM CDT

Stephany Speck
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Despite Kevin Durant’s double-double, the Oklahoma City Thunder fell to the Portland Trail Blazers Sunday night, 92-87.

Durant finished with 29 points and 13 rebounds, but his individual success wasn’t enough to carry the team. Russell Westbrook ended with 12 points and six assists, while Jeff Green added 14 points. Serge Ibaka recorded four blocks.

The Thunder struggled offensively on its home court, turning the ball over 17 times.

Oklahoma City (44-28) has only 10 more games in three weeks to determine where they will stand in the race for the playoffs. Every possession counts, every free throw is weighted and every defensive play must be executed perfectly.

With a sixth-place position in the Western Conference, each opponent they face could fluctuate where they stand. Oklahoma City trailed Portland (45-29) by 1 ? games heading into Sunday’s matchup and were tied 1-1 in the series.

The intensity was evident in both teams, as tough defense and strong drives dominated the game. The Thunder struggled offensively in the first half, falling behind by as many as 10 points. While the Thunder’s shots weren’t falling like they wanted, the players’ defensive presence kept the Trail Blazers in arm’s reach.

Oklahoma City managed to battle back in the second quarter, erasing a 10-point deficit to take the lead with five minutes left. The team ended the first half behind by one, 50-49.

Portland regained the lead in the third quarter, once again establishing a 10-point lead.

The Thunder didn’t give the Trail Blazers’ offense any slack, though, as it tightened up its defensive play and attempted to rekindle the offense streak it displayed earlier in the game.

Oklahoma City battled back with 1:30 left in the third quarter. Durant again made a case for his team by driving for a dunk that made it a one-point game.

On the next Thunder possession, Durant lobbed an assist to Ibaka for a dunk and the Thunder ended the third with a 74-71 lead.

Oklahoma City again fell behind in the fourth, and trailed the Trail Blazers by six points with 6:30 left. The Thunder would again rally back, though. Durant, who took a hard hit with Marcus Camby late in the game, earned his 22nd double-double while again giving his team the second wind they needed.

The Thunder came within three points with 44 seconds left. A scramble for a loose ball resulted in a jump ball and a Trail Blazer possession. Andre Miller patiently waited for a look as the shot clock dwindled down, but missed his attempt. Durant quickly snagged the rebound and called a timeout with :12 left in the game.

The Ford Center, packed with over 8,200 fans roared as the team trotted off the court to plan its next move.

The ball was inbounded, Durant launched a shot from three-point range, but missed as Camby grabbed the rebound.

Harden, forced to foul, sent Miller to the free throw line, where he made both free throws to seal the Thunder’s fate.

The Thunder travel to Philadelphia March 30 to face the 76ers.