THUNDER 89 TrailBLAZERS 106 F..."REGULATORS Report OKC" RUSS playing with "BECOME LEGENDARY" went off in the 1st Half as the BLAZERS came out with the SPALDING Money Ball Racks to create BLAZER Mania in the 2nd half for a BLAZER "W"! #OKCvsPOR #ThunderUp #RipCityNation

Russell Westbrook has to carry the load for the Thunder but let's not get carried away. What he doesn't have to do is take his shots and @kdTREY5 shots to keep the Thunder in games. That mentality he used tonight worked in the 1st half as he netted 26 points for a 54-49 OKC lead. That same mentality went left in the 2nd half.

The Blazers in turn stayed close even though they could not find the GPS for 23'9" shooting at a 2 for 15 clip from the arc in the 1st half. Now what they do have that OKC doesn't have is a bonafide inside    presence with the Logo's only Choo Choo train the L-Train. Rip City and @NikeBasketball star PF LaMarcus Aldrdige  came up with 17 points in the 1st half almost to match Westbrook.

In the 2nd half the Blazers came out with the Spalding money ball racks and found the GPS for 23'9" and went to work shooting a blistering 9 for 14 from the Arc in the 2nd half erasing that five point halftime deficit and cutting it two points 77-75 at the end of three.

The Blazers then ended the game on a 31-12 run with both Blazers guards Damian Lillard and Bloodline Wes Matthews Jr. combining for five money balls in the frame. Westbrook ended the night with a game-high 38 points but he took that "L" with him on the charter.

OKC had only two other players in double figures in starter Serge Ibaka with 10 points an Lance Thomas adding 14 (7/10 FG) off the OKC bench. The Thunder needs more ball movement and they must get other people involved before they find themselves some 5-10 games off the pace in the west when KD comes back.

L-Train led Rip City with a smooth 27 points (17 in 1st half) and Matthews Jr. added 22 points as the Blazers had six players in double figures. As we go to press the Northwest division will go through Rip City until I see otherwise.