Russell Westbrook and Thunder fight Damian Lillard and Trail Blazers to win Match 3 | Bleacher's report

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - APRIL 19: Oklahoma City Thunder No. 1 Russell Westbrook faces the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 3 of the first round of the NBA 2019 playoffs on April 19, 2019 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO THE USER: The user acknowledges and expressly agrees that, by downloading and / or using this photo, the user consents to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Compulsory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy / NBAE via Getty Images)

Joe Murphy / Getty Images

The Oklahoma City Thunder is on the blackboard with a 120-108 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in the third game on Friday as the series moved to the Chesapeake Energy Arena in OKC.

Russell Westbrook opened the way for the Thunder with 33 points, 11 passes and five rebounds. Paul George added 22 points, six assists and six rebounds.

Damian Lillard had 32 points and six assists for Trail Blazers in a losing effort, and CJ McCollum contributed 21 points, seven assists and seven rebounds.

Steven Adams Provides Depth For The Rally For Thunder

Oklahoma City will go as far as Westbrook and George can carry it, but Steven Adams' play could help a lot in determining if the Thunder can rise from a 0-2 series hole.

While George and Westbrook struggled to find their respective shots early, Adams offered stability to OKC. He lost eight points in the first two quarters as he shot four times out of five.

The rest of the Thunder pulled only 39.3% in the first half.

Adams finished the match with 10 points and seven boards. This comes after he's averaged 16.5 points and nine rebounds in the first two games. It draws 71.4 percent through the three games before.

It gives the Thunder a major presence of paint while relieving some of the pressure on George and Westbrook. With the center of 7 "0", 265 pounds playing at a high level, this creates a space for others to have their picture taken outside.

Jerami Grant (4 out of 5) and Terrance Ferguson (3 of 4) combined to make seven Friday at three points.

In a series presented as Westbrook and George against Lillard and McCollum, Adams has the ability to make an impact as a great man. Portland Center Enes Kanter recorded a defensive rating 111.5 between the Trail Blazers and the New York Knicks this season – and he did little to slow his former teammate to this point.

Heroball has not worked for the Thunder in the post-Kevin Durant era, while Oklahoma City has only won three playoff games over the past two years. With Adams playing the role of a third reliable option behind George and Westbrook, OKC has enough firepower to potentially come out of the first round for the first time since 2016.

Road problems could derail the series of the Trail Blazers season

At Lillard and McCollum, Portland may have one of the best shots in basketball overall, but it has not been as successful in the playoffs.

And all because of the inability of the team to move away from the Moda Center.

Portland tied for the NBA's third-best home record (32-9) in the regular season and defended at home in the first two games of the series. The Trail Blazers, on the other hand, had only 21-20 road wins in the regular season, placing them in third place among the least qualified teams in the Western Conference playoff teams.

Although they fought well on Friday, they once again failed in the arena of their opponents.

Trail Blazers have now lost eight consecutive playoff games since 2016. Since McCollum entered the league in 2013, the Trail Blazers have played in the playoffs for six consecutive seasons and have managed to win only three playoff games:

  • 2014: 2-4
  • 2015: 0-3
  • 2016: 1-5
  • 2017: 0-2
  • 2018: 0-2
  • 2019 0-1 (until now)

It may be difficult to win victories on the road in the playoffs, but the championship teams find a way to steal at least one game here and there. It's something that has escaped Portland for the most part in recent years.

The Trail Blazers quickly grew to a double-digit deficit with only 37.5% of votes in the first half, while committing 14 turnovers and 15 fouls. Although they shot 55.8% and only had four turnovers in the second half, they were unable to complete their return.

Even Lillard's three points with 25 points were not enough:

  1. McCollum and the Blazers have taken a series of playoff losses for "Jennifer"

  2. Stars invest in plant-based foods as vegetarianism sweeps the NBA

  3. The NBA has had some wild technicians this season

  4. Jarrett Allen is one of the hottest rim protectors in the NBA

  5. Wade swimsuits have created epic moments this season

  6. Westbrook makes history by honoring Nipsey Hussle

  7. Devin Booker goes into history by scoring points

  8. Twenty-nine years ago, Jordan abandoned its career: 69 points

  9. Bosh puts his jersey on the podium in Miami

  10. Steph returns to Houston for the 1st time since Moon Troll Landing

  11. Lou Williams arrives for a repeat of the sixth man of the year

  12. Pat Beverley has lawn mowers stealing the brilliance of LA

  13. LeBron continues to shave the records of the NBA

  14. Young's Hot Streak warms the ROY race with Luka

  15. LeBron and 2 Chainz form a Superteam group for the release of a new album

  16. Wade's #OneLastDance dominated February

  17. Warriors fans go wild after unforgettable moments with Steph

  18. Eight years ago, the Nuggets traded Melo to the Knicks

  19. Two years ago kings sent Boogie to pelicans

  20. ASG will be competitive again if the NBA raises the stakes

Right arrow

As the third seed, Portland can qualify for the semifinals of the conference simply by protecting his home. However, unless other series are disrupted, they will have to find a way to win on the road if they hope to overtake the second round for the first time since 2000.

And after

Oklahoma City will have the opportunity to try to equalize the series Sunday, the fourth match being played at 9:30 pm ET.

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