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Portland won a close game, but lost their biggest star to a thumb injury.
Damian Lillard had 22, and the Portland bench scored 32 points, but the Portland Trail Blazers lost LaMarcus Aldridge to a first quarter thumb injury in a 98-94 win over the Sacramento Kings at Moda Center Monday night.
The Trail Blazers started the game hot with a 7-2 run, but everything went south from there. Rudy Gay had 11 points, DeMarcus Cousins had 8, and the Kings went on a 13-2 run to take an early double digit lead. Lillard's struggles in the first quarter this season continued, as he went 0-for-4. Aldridge had 10, and the Blazers closed the gap to eight with a Wesley Matthews three near the end of the quarter.
Aldridge played for three minutes in the second quarter, but apparently hurt his hand on the knee of Cousins late in the first quarter (See video here). He went to the locker room and did not return.
Meyers Leonard led the charge for Portland in the second quarter, scoring seven points to help erase the Sacramento lead. Lillard had eight in the period, mostly from the foul line, but Sacramento recovered near the end of the quarter as Portland struggled to find a rhythm without Aldridge. Leonard and Chris Kaman got in foul trouble, placing the Blazers in a tough bind defensively in the paint. A late tip-in by Cousins gave the Kings a 56-51 lead at halftime.
The third quarter was devoid of offense, as the teams combined for just 35 points. Portland shot 6-for-25 in the quarter, with Lillard, Kaman, Nicolas Batum and Matthews combining to shoot 4-for-18. Sacramento was not much better, shooting 6-for-20. The Kings expanded their lead to eight after three.
With Aldridge out and the starters struggling, the bench came alive. Will Barton had six points, Thomas Robinson had five, and the Blazers rallied to take the lead. With Portland leading 89-87, Cousins got to the free throw line to tie the game at 89, but in the following possession fouled out of the game. Robinson missed two free throws, but the Blazers got the ball back. Matthews missed a corner three, but Lillard rebounded for a basket and a 91-89 lead. The Kings turned the ball over on their next possession, and Batum hit two three throws. Ben McLemore lured Barton into a foul behind the three point line, closing the gap to one, 93-92. On the following trip down, the Kings learned what "Lillard Time" is, when Lillard split Jason Thompson and Darren Collison for a one-handed jam.
Dorell Wright and Leonard led the bench in scoring nine. Matthews had 17 points and 3 steals.
Post-Game Reaction
Portland's 19 wins at the Moda Center (19-4) are the most home wins by any NBA team this season. #RipCity
— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) January 20, 2015
The Trail Blazers improve to 7-2 at the Moda Center this season when trailing at the start of the fourth quarter. #PORvsSAC
— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) January 20, 2015
LaMarcus Aldridge just emerged from Rebound with a towel wrapped around his left hand
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) January 20, 2015
Couldn't tell if Aldridge hand was wrapped or in a cast. Have a terrible picture pic.twitter.com/Lara8pzGFr
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) January 20, 2015
Hey @trailblazers, we thought about it... and the answer is yes! #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/Zvf7OwapPD
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 20, 2015
Aldridge was in considerable pain and unable to catch a ball with the thumb injury
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) January 20, 2015
Aldridge had both X-rays and mri but don't know results.
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) January 20, 2015
Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (left hand) is still undergoing "further evaluation" per Terry Stotts.
— Erik Gundersen (@blazerbanter) January 20, 2015
Terry Stotts: "@WillTheThrillB5 gives a different dimension. Tonight we needed a different dimension."
— Sean Michael Meagher (@sean2m) January 20, 2015
Terry Stotts said they were trying to foul on the play in which Collison stepped out if bounds
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) January 20, 2015
Stotts on Aldridge: "I'm concerned. When a guy's not able to come back into the game, I'm concerned." The injury involves Aldridge's thumb.
— Joe Freeman (@BlazerFreeman) January 20, 2015
LaMarcus Aldridge was not available in locker room and neither his agent Thad Foucher nor GM Neil Olshey responded to texts about his injury
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) January 20, 2015
Players said LaMarcus Aldridge was "positive" after the game, though no one knew the severity of his injury
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) January 20, 2015
When Aldridge emerged from door, Olshey was laughing and Aldridge was pissed I was trying to shoot a photo. "It's just a towel," he grumbled
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) January 20, 2015
X-rays of LaMarcus Aldridge's left hand are negative. He will be further evaluated on Tuesday.
— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) January 20, 2015
Matthews saw Aldridge after the game, said he was positive. Said #Blazers will have to adjust & "hold the fort down. The job still goes on."
— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) January 20, 2015
From the Blazers: X-rays of LaMarcus Aldridge's left hand are negative. He will be further evaluated on Tuesday.
— Mike Richman (@mikegrich) January 20, 2015
Blazers are saying "hand" but just for clarification the injury is to Aldridge's left thumb.
— Mike Richman (@mikegrich) January 20, 2015
Had a nice talk with Nic Batum tonight. Lots of stuff going on, but most of his shooting woes stem from his right wrist
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) January 20, 2015
The right side of his hand and wrist are stiff. He can't bring his wrist all the way back. It's causing his shot to veer right.
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) January 20, 2015
Batum says he is trying to compensate and fix his shot from drifting right. Says he made 400 jumpers in one hour yesterday
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) January 20, 2015
"The worst thing I can do right now is give up,'' Batum said. "I'm going to be all right.''
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) January 20, 2015
I asked Batum if he was angry about my column last week. "Why?'' he said. "You wrote the truth. I suck.''
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) January 20, 2015
As of now, #Blazers still not sure if Aldridge will travel to Phoenix tomorrow afternoon.
— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) January 20, 2015
"I kept looking at the end of the bench. I thought LA had went to the bathroom. I was waiting for him to come back." - Matthews on LA injury
— Mike Richman (@mikegrich) January 20, 2015
With Blazers injuries, Batum says he can't take time off and rest. Says he must remain a factor with his passing, rebounding, defense
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) January 20, 2015
On his way out of the arena after close Portland win, Blazers and Seahawks owner Paul Allen said "it would be nice to have an easy one."
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) January 20, 2015
Damian Lillard called DeMarcus Cousins "one of the two or three best bigs in the league"
— Mike Richman (@mikegrich) January 20, 2015
Blazers (31-11) have a 10-game lead in Northwest Division over Oklahoma City. Amid all the injury drama, that's a nice cushion to have.
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) January 20, 2015
Sending good vibes to @aldridge_12 #NeverSayDie #RIPCITY
— Robin Lopez (@rolopez42) January 20, 2015
Lol @wessywes2 #3Bow #PhotoBomb .. Way to get a gutsy win tonight #RipCity http://t.co/BJbZhsX6Mt
— Meyers Leonard (@MeyersLeonard11) January 20, 2015
Multiple times after the game, T-Rob kept saying "like Sherman." Then elaborated "like Richard Sherman in the post."
— Erik Gundersen (@blazerbanter) January 20, 2015
"I knew … there'd be an opportunity for me to split. So that's what I did." — @Dame_Lillard on another huge dunk http://t.co/z9XEnJ9mcR
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) January 20, 2015
Beyond humble and thankful! I appreciate the love more than you will ever know! This could not have… http://t.co/8R5OOQBxJo
— Wesley Matthews (@wessywes2) January 20, 2015
Asked what he told Collison on the inbounds pass late while defending, Robinson said: "Give it to me." #Blazers #Kings
— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) January 20, 2015
VIDEO: Wesley Matthews is given a plaque from team owner Paul Allen before the game.
VIDEO: Damian Lillard throws down a filthy dunk late in the fourth quarter.