Preview: OKC Thunder seek to even series vs. Blazers after historically poor shooting

Projected Line-ups

OKC Thunder Starters:

Point Guard: Russell Westbrook
Shooting Guard: Terrance Ferguson
Small Forward: Paul George
Power Forward: Jerami Grant
Center:  Steven Adams

OKC Thunder Bench

Point Guard: Dennis Schroder, Raymond Felton
Shooting Guard: Hamidou Diallo, Deonte Burton
Small Forward: Abdel Nader
Power Forward: Patrick Patterson, Markieef Morris
Center: Nerlens Noel

Injury Notes:

Andre Roberson: Avulsion Fracture – out for the remainder season.

Portland Trail Blazers Starters

Point Guard: Damian Lillard
Shooting Guard: CJ McCollum
Small Forward: Maurice Harkless
Power Forward: Al-Farouq Aminu
Center: Enes Kanter

Portland Trail Blazers Bench

Point Guard: Seth Curry
Shooting Guard: Evan Turner, Anfernee Simons, Gary Trent Jr.
Small Forward: Jake Layman, Rodney Hood
Power Forward: Caleb Swanigan, Skal Labissiere
Center: Zach Collins, Meyers Leonard

Injury Notes:

Jusuf Nurkic: compound fractures to the fibula and tibia – out for the remainder of the season

Game Specifics

Recent History:

All-time the Thunder are 23-22 vs. the Blazers, OKC is 4-6 in the last ten games against Portland. Including their Game 1 defeat.

Fan Data:

The Venue: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
The Tip: 9:30 PM CST (10:30 EST)
TV: Fox Sports Oklahoma and TNT
Radio: Oklahoma City – WWLS 98.1FM OKC / 930AM (ESP) and Tunein Premium

Round 1 – series coverage:

Analysis:

• Film Room, Defensive keys to shut down Blazers offense:  click here

Opinion:

• 3 potential Thunder playoff X-factors the team needs: click here
• Appreciating Westbrook:  click here
• History shows losing game one is no reason to panic: click here

Matchups:

• Whose bench mob will feast? click here
• Brewing rivalry of Russell Westbrook and Damian Lillard: click here
• ‘Can’t play Kanter’ returns to playoffs, this time in favor of OKC Thunder: click here
• Terrance Ferguson vs. CJ McCollum: click here 

More from Thunderous Intentions

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

Annual TI playoff roundtable:

• Part 1: click here
• Part 2: click here

Game Day:

• Game 1 Preview: click here
• Game 1 Grades: click here
• Game 1 Film Room – ‘Can play Kanter’ arrives, Lillard feasts, room to improve: click here

Miscellaneous:

• Broadcast schedule: – click here
• Paul George participates fully in practice ‘pain free’: click here

Closing Thoughts

The Thunder let a tremendous opportunity slip away in Game 1, winning the match would have let doubt creep into the Blazers minds about whether or not they could beat the Thunder. Now, Portland has momentum.

Heading into Game 2, two of the most vital components will be getting off to a good start and establishing a lead going into the fourth quarter. Including Game 1, this year when the Blazers lead after three quarters their record is 49-4. Compared to 5-25, when they are trailing going into the final period.

Enjoy Game 2, Thunder Nation. Check back with Thunderous Intentions after the match for post-game grades and key takeaways.