Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter VI Mobile College Basketball March Mayhem Picks College Basketball March Mayhem Picks VegasInsider.com VegasInsider.com
Handicapper Bios Sports Picks Free Odds Contests Sportsbook
Sports Betting Home NFL NBANHLMLBNCAA FBNCAA BKGolfAutoHorsesBoxingVI More Sports
 
NBA Scores Matchups Teams Standings Schedules Injuries News
 
 · Latest News
 · Player Updates
 · Transactions
Buy Picks Vegas Odds
 
 · Vegas Odds
 · Offshore Odds
 · Future Odds

 
Thunder slip by Blazers, 'under' connects
 
 
 

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Kevin Durant had 33 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder snapped Portland's nine-game winning streak at the Rose Garden with an 87-83 victory over the Trail Blazers on Sunday night.

Advertisement
Russell Westbrook added 18 points and nine assists for the Thunder, who played without starters Serge Ibaka and Thabo Sefolosha because of injuries.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 33 points and 11 rebounds for the Blazers, who trailed by 11 points but pulled within one point with less than a minute left.

Westbrook's 3-pointer made it 84-74 with 3:35 left but the Blazers closed to 84-80 after Nicolas Batum's putback with 1:57 to go. Batum added a 3-pointer with 21.9 seconds left to make it 84-83.

Kendrick Perkins missed the first of two free throws and after a timeout Aldridge missed a tough fade-away jumper from about 20 feet out with 1.7 seconds left. Westbrook made a pair of foul shots for the final margin.

The Blazers extended their Rose Garden winning streak to nine after rallying for a 92-90 win over Miami on Thursday night. But Portland fell 103-97 at Golden State on Friday to stop a four-game overall winning streak.

Ibaka missed the game because of chest contusion he sustained in the third quarter of the Thunders' 116-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. It was the first time Ibaka missed a game this season. The 6-foot-10 forward is averaging 14.3 points and 8.4 rebounds.

Ibaka was replaced by Nick Collison in Oklahoma City's starting lineup.

Sefolosha, who was held back with a sore neck, has also started in all of the Thunder's games this season, averaging 7.5 points and four rebounds. He was replaced by DeAndre Liggins, who made his first career start.

The Blazers trailed by eight points early, but pulled to 18-17 on Aldridge's layup and free throw late in the first quarter. Portland couldn't get any closer and Collison's reverse layup midway through the second quarter gave the Thunder a 33-27 lead.

The Blazers responded with a 12-2 run, pulling ahead on a trio of free throws and a 3-pointer from Batum that put Portland ahead 39-25.

Durant was whistled for three fouls and went to the bench but the Thunder kept up the pressure and the Blazers hung onto only a 43-42 lead at the break.

The Thunder pulled back in front, 52-48, after Westbrook's finger-roll layup and Collison's hook shot. Durant made a 3-pointer over Batum to make it 57-50.

Liggins hit a 3 that stretched Oklahoma City's lead to 63-52.

Aldridge and Batum had back-to-back dunks to pull Portland to 72-67 with 8:04 left.

NOTES: There were lots of fans wearing Seattle SuperSonics gear at the Rose Garden, as there always are when Oklahoma City comes to town. But NBA fans from Seattle may not be lamenting the loss of a hometown team much longer. Reports emerged last week that the owners of the Sacramento Kings may be in talks with a group in Seattle that would relocate the team. The Sonics left for Oklahoma City in 2008. A fan in the stands at the Rose Garden held a sign that read ``Bring Back the Rivalry!''

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2013
The Associated Press
All Rights Reserved

  
HEADLINES
Spurs rip Grizzlies by 22 points in Game 1
Built to win now, Knicks didn't get close
Pacers, Heat ready to square off again
Anthony blocked in 4th as Knicks ousted
Captivating season gives Warriors hope
Ex-NBA player stabbed, injured in fight
Late workouts likely to pay off for Oladipo
Parker, Spurs set to face Grizzlies
Mayor: Deal to sell Kings has been signed
MORE HEADLINES
 
 Brian Edwards
 20-5 L25 Guarantees, +2,665 TY
 Mark Franco
 8-4 L12 G-Plays, +3,093 This Year
 Joe Nelson
 13-5 Last 18, 18-7 NBA Streak
 Joe Williams
 16-9 L25 Picks, 15-8 L23 G-Plays
 Doc's Sports
 17-10 L27 Picks, 22-10 G-Plays
 Tom Freese
 8-4 L12 G-Plays, +3,253 This Year
 James Patrick
 29-16 Last 35 Picks, +2,939 TY
 Stephen Nover
 6-3 Last 9 Picks, +2,975 TY
 Vince Akins
 4-2 L6 Playoff Guarantees
 Jimmy Boyd
 4-0 L4, 8-2 L10 Playoff Picks
 Bruce Marshall
 31-18 Last 49 NBA Guarantees
 Tony Stoffo
 15-9 L24 Guaranteed Plays
 Dave Cokin
 21-12 Last 33 NBA Picks
 Kevin Rogers
 5-2 Last 7 Guaranteed Plays
NBA Pro Basketball Playoffs Expert Sports Picks -
2012-13 NBA SEASON PICK RECORDS
Money Leaders
Handicapper Money
Tom Freese + 3253
Mark Franco + 3093
Stephen Nover + 2975
Last 7 Day Leaders
Handicapper Money
Jimmy Boyd + 392
Kevin Rogers + 185
Vince Akins + 180
Percentage Leaders
Handicapper Pct
James Patrick 59 %
Brian Edwards 58 %
Stephen Nover 58 %
Guaranteed Leaders
Handicapper Money
Brian Edwards + 2946
Mark Franco + 2110
Kevin Rogers + 1047
Over-Under Leaders
Handicapper Money
Paul Bovi + 1041
Jimmy Boyd + 1000
James Patrick + 935
Member Leaders
Handicapper Money
James Patrick + 2331
The Gold Sheet + 1507
Stephen Nover + 990
MORE PICK RECORDS
  
GOLD Membership
Over 150 Member Plays free each month. Signup Today!
 
 

NFL
NFL Sports Picks
NFL Vegas Odds
NFL Online Odds
NFL Matchups
NFL Scores

More Sports
Golf
Auto Racing
Horse Racing
Boxing
WNBA

MLB
MLB Sports Picks
MLB Vegas Odds
MLB Online Odds
MLB Matchups
MLB Scores

Features
Free Odds
Contests
Newsletters
VI Radio
Las Vegas Travel
Follow us on Twitter
Add us on Google+
Join us on Facebook

NBA
NBA Sports Picks
NBA Vegas Odds
NBA Online Odds
NBA Matchups
NBA Scores

Sports Betting Tools
Live Odds
Mobile Odds
Parlay Calculator
Gaming Terms
TV Listings
Handicapping Records
Sports Betting
About Sports Betting
Sportsbook Reviews

NHL
NHL Sports Picks
NHL Vegas Odds
NHL Online Odds
NHL Matchups
NHL Scores

VegasInsider Info
About Us
Help Center
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Refund Policy
Contact Us
User Feedback

College Football
NCAA FB Sports Picks
NCAA FB Vegas Odds
NCAA FB Online Odds
NCAA FB Matchups
NCAA FB Scores

Sportsbooks
CarbonSports · Review
SportBet · Review
Sportsbook · Review
TopBet.eu · Review

College Basketball
NCAA BK Sports Picks
NCAA BK Vegas Odds
NCAA BK Online Odds
NCAA BK Matchups
NCAA BK Scores

Rotation Schedules
Baseball: Mar 31 - June 02

Copyright © 1997-2013, VegasInsider.com Inc., The Global Leader In Sports Gaming Information. All rights reserved.
For questions or comments, please contact us at 1-800-211-4759.