Kevin Durant scored 24 points to lead Oklahoma City to a 106-90 victory
over the Portland Trail Blazers at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on
Wednesday as the Thunder rolled to a sixth consecutive triumph.
"They are very physical," Blazers forward Mason Plumlee told reporters
after the Thunder owned a 48-34 scoring advantage in the paint and
out-rebounded their opponents 51-47.
"Their inside players are focused on rebounding and they are focused on
defending. When that is your mindset, you really have to lock in as the
opposition and keep them off the glass. We didn't do a good job of that
to start the game."
Durant shot 8-of-14 from the field to go along with seven rebounds and
four assists as six Thunder players scored in doubles figures, including
guard Dion Waiters, who came off the bench to pour in 18 points and
grab six rebounds.
Guard Russell Westbrook and forward Serge Ibaka each scored 13 points for Oklahoma City (17-8).
"We feel like we can get into the paint whenever we want," Durant said.
"Our bigs did a good job of rebounding and finishing. We knew we could
get anything we wanted if we were aggressive. In the second half we did
that."
Guard CJ McCollum led the Blazers with 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting.
Guard Damian Lillard added 20 points and Plumlee scored 14 points in the
loss.
"Oklahoma City played a very good game," Portland coach Terry Stotts
said. "They were aggressive offensively. Aggressive under the boards,
aggressive in the paint and we were kind of behind them the whole
night."
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