The publish Blazers gives Thunder first loss but not before bizarre ending appeared first on ClutchPoints.
The Portland Trail Blazers snapped the Oklahoma City Thunder’s excellent document as defending champions in a 121-119 win that went all the way down to the wire on the Moda Center. Amid injuries the Blazers continued their impressive start with presumably their finest efficiency but. Portland erased a 22-point deficit, but with 2:48 left, almost coughed up an eight-point lead (112-104). The Thunder pulled to inside three with 6.5 seconds remaining.
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Then, Thunder guard Isaiah Joe drew a three-point shooting foul on Toumani Camara with 0.6 seconds left within the recreation. However, upon the officers’ overview, it was decided that Joe’s foot was on the three-point arc and not behind it, sending him to the free-throw line for 2, and not three, which might have given Joe a possibility to tie the sport.
Instead the Blazers improved to 5-3, handing the Thunder — the one undefeated crew left this season. Deni Avdija got here one help shy of a triple-double (26 factors, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists) led three Blazers gamers with 20+ factors, together with Jrue Holiday (22 factors, six rebounds), and Jerami Grant (20 factors), who led Portland’s bench.
Draymond Green warns NBA concerning the Trail Blazers’ ascension
Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images
Despite lacking All-Star Damian Lillard and Matisse Thybulle, the Trail Blazers’ hot start compelled Draymond Green after a 139-119 loss in the course of the first week of the common season. It was sufficient for Green to say be careful for the neglected Blazers, who now have sixth-best document in a aggressive Western Conference.
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Green talked concerning the Blazers’ dynamic core on the Draymond Green Show.
“Portland is a tough, tough game. They’ve got a bunch of length, switchable guys. Defensively they are all 6’7, 6’8 can move their feet. Can guard positions one through five,” Green stated. “Jrue Holiday’s leadership is proven to be invaluable for this team. They’ve got centers, they’ve wings. They’ve got young scoring wings that can go get it. They’ve got defenders, they’ve got a true point guard in Jrue Holiday.
“That team is the young team that I think a lot of people aren’t looking out for that I think is going to have a good year.”
The Blazers will take the following two days off before dealing with the Heat on the highway on Saturday.
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