Blazers Clinch Playoff Berth

Monday, March 30, 2015

Andrew R Tonry, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Overnight celebrity. pic.twitter.com/OMx9TfcZVW
— Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) March 31, 2015

BLAZERS 109, SUNS 86

The Blazers clinched a playoff spot, Monday, blasting the Phoenix Suns 109-86.

They did it with a magnificent third quarter, in which the Blazers outscored the Suns 37-16.

After a sloppy run of play to close the first half, Portland emerged from intermission on a mission. They quickly rattled off a 20-4 run and never looked back. Phoenix, too, knew they were cooked.

As the lead reached as high as 31 points, Portland's starters were afforded the luxury of resting the entire fourth quarter.

For the game, the Blazers bested the lofty 50-40-90 benchmark, shooting 51% from the floor, 44% from three, and 90% from the line.

The win was Portland's fourth straight, and is an important boost to both their confidence and momentum as a showdown with the Clippers awaits, Wednesday. The game could be a preview of a first round playoff matchup, as the two teams are most likely headed to the No. 4 and 5 seeds.

Wednesday's contest too contains much importance in and of itself, as the Blazers can even the season series with a win. Should the two teams finish the regular season with matching records--a very real possibility as the Blazers just 1/2 game behind the Clippers--Portland would gain the home-court advantage, the result of a tie-breaker based on their (presumed) winning of the Northwest Division.

Indeed, Wednesday's game is a big one.

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B	LaMarcus Aldridge Aldridge's lights-out shooting streak cooled a bit, Monday, as he made just 6-of-14 attempts from the field. He finished with 17 points and seven rebounds. Of course, those numbers might have ended up better had Aldridge been called on in the fourth quarter. He played just 30 minutes--the most of any Blazers starter.
A	Nicolas Batum Batum came out hot, Monday. He scored eight points in the first quarter and finished with 16 while making 4-of-6 from downtown. He also added five rebounds and five assists. Indeed, there's just something about the Suns that have brought the best out of Batum all season.
B	Robin Lopez Lopez played just 20 minutes. He made 4-of-6 from the field and grabbed five boards--three of which came during the critical opening run of the third quarter.
B+	Arron Afflalo Afflalo strung together his second-straight strong offensive outing. He made 6-of-11 from the field, 2-of-3 from deep, and finished with 16 points.
B+	Damian Lillard Lillard certainly got the better of Eric Bledsoe, Monday. Shooting 50% from the floor, Lillard nabbed 19 points, seven assists, four rebounds and only one turnover to Bledsoe's 12 points, three rebounds, five assists and five turnovers.
A	Chris Kaman Kaman was mighty efficient, scoring 12 points and grabbing seven rebounds in 16 minutes while making 6-of-7 attempts. Just as important his mug inspired this incredible fan-made t-shirt (see above).