The Portland Trail Blazers got pulverized by the Atlanta Hawks in NBA action tonight, falling 135-101 in a game that was never seriously contested. Blazers guard Jrue Holiday scored 23 points, but Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu led his team with 25.
Players of the Game
Okongwu made 7 threes in 12 tries on the way to his 25 points. Add in 10 rebounds and 6 assists, and call it a good day at the office. On the Blazers’ end of things, it was a homecoming of sorts for Vit Krejci. In his first game in Atlanta since the trade
that brought him to Portland, the forward scored 14 points and made a couple of threes.
Stat of the Night
For the second game in a row, the Blazers were outshot and outrebounded, a proven way to lose a basketball game. The Hawks were 51 of 92 from the field and 15 of 40 from the concourse, the Blazers 35 of 87 and 13 of 37. Rebounds were 54-38, with Okongwu at the top of list with 10. Clingan picked up 15.
What We Noticed
Former Blazer CJ McCollum showed up again on the opposing team. I swear he was wearing a different uniform the last time I saw him, but otherwise he looked like he usually does: 19 points and 5 assists in a steady-as-you-go performance.
Clingan had some decent numbers (15 points, 15 boards), but his early frustration led to three early fouls and a 7-foot hole in the first-quarter defense. Considering that Robert Williams III was on the sidelines for this one, the timing for this kind of thing could have been better.
Up Next
The Blazers get two days of rest before continuing their road trip against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday at 5 p.m. PST.
