:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65852673/usa_today_13770816.0.jpg)
The Portland Trail Blazers looked all out of sorts against the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday, losing at home for the second straight game, 108-96.
Reeling from the sudden loss of Rodney Hood, who ruptured his achilles against the the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, Portland got blitzed by the OKC backcourt of Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dennis Schroder, who combined for 62 points.
It wasn’t the peak of the dysfunction so far this season, but it certainly was close.
Building a house. All three of Portland’s stars shot poorly, with Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Carmelo Anthony combining for a miserable 20-63 night from the field and 55 points. Neither Dame or Melo could buy a bucket early on - Dame eventually turned it on in the second half and finished with a team-high 26 points, but Melo’s struggled throughout and he missed all of his shots in the fourth quarter, finishing with just 9 points.
There’s a new rotation in town. Kent Bazemore got the start in the place of the injured Rodney Hood and did an okay job filling in. He didn’t try to do too much and finished with 9 points. The minutes Baze would have occupied off of the bench were split between Anfernee Simons and Mario Hezonja, neither of which had a remarkable night. In all, the second unit combined for a paltry 18 points, which just isn’t going to get the job done.
Up Next:
The Blazers will get a day off before hosting yet another Melo reunion game, this time taking on the New York Knicks on Tuesday.