In a game that saw fifteen lead changes, plenty of shoving, and a baby wallaby, the Trailblazers broke their seven game losing streak at home Friday night with a 102-91 victory over the LA Clippers. In attendance was Momo, a ten-month old wallaby, serving as a therapy animal for a Clackamas teenager. This was Momo’s second NBA game, and if I’m the Trailblazer execs I’m inviting her back. Wallaby aside, here are five reasons Portland got the win.
They Dominated the Glass
During the seven game skid the Trailblazers averaged two fewer rebounds per game than their opponents and never broke the 50 rebound mark. Last night they snagged 55 rebounds, outpacing the Clippers by 13 boards. Mason Plumlee, Ed Davis, and Al-Farouq Aminu let Deandre Jordan get his (15 rebounds) but kept the rest of the Clippers off the glass.
Ed Davis showed up, and showed up big
Portland’s offseason free agent acquisition finally had the high impact night the Trailblazers were hoping for when they inked him to a deal over the summer. Davis came off the bench to the tune of 17 points and 15 rebounds. Ten of those rebounds were on the offensive glass, a career high. The Blazers NEED this type of support from the bench. Allen Crabbe has been the primary spark for Portland so far, but primarily on the scoring front. Mason Plumlee is off to a solid start, but the Trailblazers can’t give up a rebounding edge when he comes out.
Home, Sweet Home
Five of the Blazer’s last seven losses have come on the road. Bouncing around from Oregon to Texas to North Carolina and back again will take its toll on any team, and especially one with a home court like the Blazers have. The Moda Center has been in the top ten in attendance every season since 2008. Keep in mind the Blazers aren’t perennial contenders, these are loyal fans.
The Clippers had a Hangover
Los Angeles came close to snapping the Warriors season opening winning streak Thursday night. They blew a 23-point lead and essentially laid down in the fourth quarter, finishing on the wrong side of a 25-8 Warriors run. The Clippers are a team with title aspirations and Golden State is the top dog they need to take down along the way. Friday night the Clips spent more time licking their wounds than bouncing back like a championship-caliber squad.
They Played Angry
The Blazers simply played like a team that was sick of losing. Lillard played with a chip on his shoulder and elevated his play throughout the entire night. Portland is a young team and they need a leader to set the tone. Damian Lillard did just that. He’ll have to make it a habit if the Blazers are going to continue to win.
The Trailblazers play next Sunday, 6:30pm PST at the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Heat Check Magazine 