The Odenizer! Blazers Center Gets Double-Double As They Burn Bulls 122-98!

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap

Back on Media Day Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden heading into his third year in the Association told reporters this was the year that he was going to show the NBA what he was made of. The Number One selection in the 2008 NBA Draft missed his entire rookie season after having micro-fracture surgery performed on his knee. Oden also missed large chunks of last season that definitely retarded his progress in the Association. This season would be different he vowed as his health would not be a deterrent for him.

Oden may have had his coming out party on Monday night as the center recorded a double-double with 24 points and 12 boards and his club walloped the Chicago Bulls by a final score of 122-98. Portland forward LaMarcus Aldridge also had a double-double with 24 points and 13 rebounds in the victory one of five Trail Blazers players in double figures. The team shot a scorching 57.5% (42-73) and 40% (6-15) from outside the arc. Luol Deng led all players as the Chicago forward scored 25 points in the loss. The win gives Portland an 11-5 record in the still young NBA campaign.

Both teams shot well in the first however the Blazers were a tad better and would end the quarter on top 32-28. Portland increased their intensity on the offensive end in the second but Chicago could not keep up the pace and the Blazers would walk into the locker room at the half leading by a healthy margin of 66-51.

The Bulls made a run in the third and got to within 4 points of Portland at 77-73 with 3:53 left in the period as Luol Deng knocked down an outside jump shot. However the Trail Blazers got momentum back on their side and had their advantage back up to double digits at the end of the quarter as they led 90-80. Chicago would score the first basket in the fourth but then Portland just took their game to another gear and the Bulls never came close to recovering.

Greg Oden recorded a double-double with 24 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1 assist while LaMarcus Aldridge also had a double-double with 24 points, 13 boards, 3 assists and 1 block. Brandon Roy scored 18 points, 7 assists and 2 rebounds while Andre Miller came off the bench and had16 points and 5 assists. Rudy Fernandez also came in off of the pine and added 13 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds.

Luol Deng led all players as he scored 25 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists while John Salmons added 22 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds. Jannero Pargo came off the bench with 15 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds and 1 steal while Derrick Rose contributed 14 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 1 steal. Portland now has a record of 11 -5 and will host the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday. Chicago falls to a mark of 6-7 and will next play Thursday night in Utah as the Bulls face off against the Jazz.

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