BLAZERS GRADED: Cleveland 99, Portland 94

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Andrew R Tonry, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Approaching Wednesday's matchup with the Cavaliers, circumstance seemed to be smiling upon the Blazers.

After a storm cancelled Monday's game against the Knicks, Portland got in to Cleveland early and were afforded some extra rest. And the Cavaliers, playing the second night of a back-to-back, would be without LeBron James, who was nursing a sprained right wrist.

Indeed, for the Blazers, it looked like everything was breaking just right.

Then Kyrie Irving went and had the best night of his career.

Irving was deadly, Wednesday. In 39 minutes he piled up a career-high 55 points, making a franchise-best 11 three-pointers. Of Cleveland's 99 points, Irving scored more than half. He did damage from the arc, in the paint, and at the line.

No shot of Irving's was bigger than his game-winning three in the final moments. Tied at 94 with :26.7 seconds remaining, the Cavaliers got Irving the ball and he dribbled out the clock, the calmly stepped up and drained a three in the face of defender Nicolas Batum.

It was a fitting end for Cleveland, who got little got little help from anyone besides Irving. At times, the Cavaliers reliance on his scoring almost seemed to doom them, as the rest of the team basically stood around and watched.

Which wasn't so with the Blazers, who kept playing as a team while LaMarcus Aldridge went off. Aldridge had a monster night of his own. He finished with 38 points and 11 rebounds.

But down the stretch he and the Blazers shared the ball. They got good looks, but they didn't go down. In the final two minutes Wesley Matthews and Damian Lillard each missed good looks from deep.

It was a disappointing night for the Blazers, who once again fell behind early and battled back to re-take the lead, only to once again have it ripped away in the final moments.

For a time, momentum seemed to be on Portland's side.

But on this night, Irving, who missed his first seven shots of the game and still managed a career-best, was not to be denied.

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LAMARCUS ALDRDIGE: A
All night long Aldridge was marvelous, scoring at will on whatever defender the Cavaliers threw at him. In his second game back after injuring his thumb and eschewing surgery, his efficency and prowess beg the question: why was he considering surgery at all? (OK fine: it does remain a roll of the dice in the long term.)

NICOLAS BATUM: C-
Batum started strong, looking to attack on offense, then withered away, stringing together another poor shooting night (1-of-5 from downtown). He also gave Irving the daylight he needed on the game-winning shot.

CHRIS KAMAN: B-
Kaman banged inside, grabbing 13 boards, but was mostly a non-factor on the offensive end.

DAMIAN LILLARD: D
Once again, Lillard struggles and the slump continues. He made 3-of-10 tries from behind the arc and just 4-of-19 overall. He had five assists and no rebounds. It goes to show: even when Aldridge is on top of his game, the Blazers need Lillard to take them over the top.

WESLEY MATTHEWS: C-
Matthews' shot wasn't falling either. He got two great looks down the stretch that could've made the difference had they gone in. He finished with 11 points, two assists and two rebounds.