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Damian Lillard's poor shooting was not going to last forever. The Cleveland Cavaliers got to find this out the hard way.
Lillard had 27 points and 7 assists, Robin Lopez had 19, and the Blazers snapped out of their offensive funk with a dominating 101-82 win at Moda Center Tuesday night.
The woes of the first three games seemed to be behind the Blazers as they shot 55% from the field in the first. Lopez had a field day exploiting Anderson Varejao down low, and Wesley Matthews was 3-of-3 from the field in the quarter. Unfortunately, as the offense recovered, the defense lapsed for Portland. The Cavaliers did not miss a shot until 4:15 was left in the quarter, hitting their first ten shots. Kevin Love and LeBron James had their pick of three-point shots, and the Cavaliers led 34-31 after one quarter.
Whatever was plaguing the Blazers in the first three games infected the Cavaliers in the second as they shot just 6-of-22 in the period, and Portland was more than happy to take advantage. Lillard had 10 in the period, Lopez and Chris Kaman stayed hot, and the Blazers went into halftime with a 55-50 advantage.
Portland started the third quarter red hot, extending the lead to as high as 13, but some key fouls and a series of turnovers allowed the Cavaliers to stay close. Lillard continued to shoot well from the field, and the Blazers led by seven at the end of three.
The fourth was all Portland as Nicolas Batum locked down James, forcing three turnovers and several missed shots. Kyrie Irving was unable to drive against the Blazers defense, and on the other end, Matthews and Lillard shredded the Cavaliers.
Wesley Matthews had 21 points, and Thomas Robinson had eight rebounds off the bench to help the Blazers in the win.
Gameday Thread Comments Of The Night
I absolutely cannot go through another few years of "Big 3 this, Big 3 that". But what choice do I have?
by RipCityLifer!
Nice to see Dame doing positive things out there. It’s been a rough start to the season.
by Eric Osborne
Post-Game Reaction
LeBron James finished with his second-lowest scoring output in 11 games played in Portland. Scored 8 during 1st visit as rookie.
— Joe Freeman (@BlazerFreeman) November 5, 2014
Blatt on LeBron's off night: "I don't hold him responsible. We have to help him get looks"
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 5, 2014
Blatt on his message to the Cavs after their blowout loss: "Tonight there was no message. The message will come tomorrow"
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 5, 2014
Asked Lopez if he asked coach to call any plays for him. He joked "Sometimes we know who the ball has to go through." He had 19 pts #Blazers
— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) November 5, 2014
"A lot of bad habits have built up over the years." LeBron James on the Cavaliers
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) November 5, 2014
Marion required 4 stitches above his eye postgame stemming fom the T. Robinson shoving match. LeBron called SM a "gangster"
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 5, 2014
Nic Batum conceded that even though it was the fourth game of the season tonight's win over the Cavs was indeed "a huge game"
— Mike Richman (@mikegrich) November 5, 2014
LeBron James held scoreless in 2nd half for just 2nd time in career. Only previous time was 4th career game in 2003. pic.twitter.com/So5T1pWyRj
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 5, 2014
LeBron James on Cavaliers after flat performance in blowout loss to Blazers pic.twitter.com/1DjjdoQkwO
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) November 5, 2014
Dame's 10-for-10 from the FT line tied a career high for most FT made without a miss in a GM..last time it happened 12/2/13 vs Ind #Blazers
— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) November 5, 2014
Great win tonight, did work on both ends of the floor! Gotta keep the momentum rolling #RIPCITY #NeverSayDie
— Robin Lopez (@rolopez42) November 5, 2014
Great win ! Thanks again Rip City you were amazing tonight #WeAreRipCity pic.twitter.com/CPkiL2wFkS
— Nicolas Batum (@nicolas88batum) November 5, 2014
"Very basically, very simply it gives you a little confidence. It gives that good feeling that we needed a little bit." - RoLo on the win
— Mike Richman (@mikegrich) November 5, 2014
Here is Lopez's shot chart tonight vs #Cavs ...big man doin big things... #Blazers pic.twitter.com/nY4QM9qf1B
— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) November 5, 2014
Thomas @Trobinson0 said he ran onto the court after Aldridge's coast-to-coast because LMA always teases him about dribbling full court.
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) November 5, 2014
How long before CLE comes together? LeBron: "Hopefully not too long but it could go on for a couple months until we’re all on the same page"
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 5, 2014
More LeBron: "It’s going to be a long process, man. There’s been a lot of losing basketball around here for a few years"
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 5, 2014
While describing the Cavs, LeBron used the word "process" six times during his five minute postgame talk with the media.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 5, 2014
#Blazers will have an off tomorrow...no practice. Think they've earned it.
— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) November 5, 2014
Matthews-Kaman-Blake-Barton-ThRob line-up out scored the Cavs by 7 in 7 minutes, while shooting 38.5 percent per http://t.co/37ezjTQW9T.
— Erik Gundersen (@blazerbanter) November 5, 2014
Starters for the Blazers tonight had an Off-rtg of 150.9. That might be pretty good.
— Erik Gundersen (@blazerbanter) November 5, 2014
The Blazers have the league's 7th best d-rtg after 4 games, right behind the Sacramento Kings, like everyone expected. #FunWithSampleSizes
— Erik Gundersen (@blazerbanter) November 5, 2014
CLE was outrebounded 48-41, making it 2 out of 3 gms they got beat on the boards. In the preseason, LeBron said they should win reb every gm
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) November 5, 2014
'@nicolas88batum, on Cavs starting game 10-10: "I kept thinking, 'They're going to miss one,' Never seen team shoot 100 percent whole game"
— kerry eggers (@kerryeggers) November 5, 2014
Terry Stotts on #Blazers defense: "When you hold a team like Cleveland under 20 for 3 straight quarters, you're doing a lot of good things"
— kerry eggers (@kerryeggers) November 5, 2014
'@Dame_Lillard on his 27-point night vs. Cavs: "It's the same game I've been playing. The only difference was, the shots just went in."
— kerry eggers (@kerryeggers) November 5, 2014
#Blazers coach Terry Stotts to media: "You don't have to ask what's wrong with Damian anymore. Actually, you don't ever have to ask that."
— kerry eggers (@kerryeggers) November 5, 2014
VIDEO: Nicolas Batum leaks out for the fast break dunk.In scoring 11 vs. #Blazers, LeBron James extended streak to 575 games scoring 10 or more points, tying Karl Malone for third on NBA list.
— kerry eggers (@kerryeggers) November 5, 2014
VIDEO: Robin Lopez blocks Shawn Marion's shot out of bounds.
VIDEO: Damian Lillard speaks with Michael Holton after tonight's game.
VIDEO: Robin Lopez speaks with the media following tonight's win.
VIDEO: The NBA recaps tonight's game against the Cavaliers.