March 29th, 2010 
Stephen Rhodes 
Posted in 
It has probably been about a month or so when the Portland Trail Blazers were on the outside looking in in terms to the Western Conference playoff chase, being in the #9 spot at that time. Since then, they have, prior to their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Ford Center Sunday night, won 10 of their past 12.
The game itself was competitive for nearly the entire 48 minutes, but miscues by the Thunder late in the fourth quarter helped Portland get past Oklahoma City 92-87 and lift themselves into a tie for the #6 seed in the Western Conference playoff hunt.
The Trail Blazers dominated the first quarter as they outscored the Thunder 30-21 while Oklahoma City took over the second quarter yet Portland managed to hang onto a 50-49 lead going into the intermission.
Serge Ibaka’s dunk capped a run of six straight points by the Thunder and tied the game at 84 with 3:55 remaining. After a timeout, Brandon Roy would get fouled by Jeff Green and hit a pair of free throws; Marcus Camby followed with a steal from Russell Westbrook at the opposite end and hit two free throws. Portland would hang on from there for the victory.
Andre Miller led the Blazers with 26 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals while Brandon Roy added 20 with 3 rebounds, 7 assists and a block; LaMarcus Aldridge chipped in 14 with 6 rebounds, 2 steals and a block.
The Thunder were led by Kevin Durant with 29 points, 13 rebounds, an assist, a steal and and 3 blocks while Green added 14 with 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
Portland (45-29) plays again on Wednesday when they return home to host the New York Knicks while Oklahoma City (44-28) flies east to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers Tuesday nught.
Tags: 
