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 It might be early in the season, but this was a statement win for
the Blazers.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 28 points and 10 rebounds and Portland downed
Indiana 106-102 Monday night, snapping the Pacers' seven-game
winning streak. Damian Lillard added 26.
"It was a tough one, and we knew it was going to be a tough one
going in," Lillard said. "They're a good team, they only had one
loss. But we're a good team too, and we wanted to prove that."
Paul George had a career-high 43 points for Pacers (16-2), who own
the NBA's best record.
The Blazers pulled in front early in the fourth quarter, but the
Pacers kept it close and George hit consecutive 3-pointers that
narrowed it to 98-96 with 1:37 left. Lillard answered with a
3-pointer and Nicolas Batum made a pair of free throws for the
Blazers before George hit another 3-pointer that got Indiana within
103-99 with 21 seconds to go.
Lillard hit free throws and George made yet another 3 with 10
seconds left to make it 105-102, but the Pacers couldn't get closer.
Portland (15-3) is off to its best start since the 1998-99 season.
"I really wanted to get this win," said George, one of just four
Indiana players to score 43 or more points in a game since 2000. "I
was trying to will us into the game."
Both teams were playing the second of a back-to-back. The Blazers
beat the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers 114-108, snapping a
seven-game losing streak to the Lakers at the Staples Center.
The Pacers (16-2) were coming off a 105-100 victory over the Los
Angeles Clippers on Sunday to open a five-game road trip.
"They're a great offensive team and they made big shots all game
long," Indiana coach Frank Vogel said of Portland. "Hopefully that's
what it's going to take to beat this team — making impossible shot
after impossible shot."
Earlier Monday, the NBA named Vogel the Eastern Conference coach of
the month for November. Portland's Terry Stotts was named coach of
the month for the Western Conference.
The Pacers went 15-1 in November and opened the season with a
nine-game winning streak for the best start in franchise history.
The Blazers went 13-3 under Stotts to start the season, including an
11-game winning streak.
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While Stotts acknowledged it was a big win, he
stopped short of the whole "statement" thing.
"We played the most complete game from beginning to end:
Execution, effort, mental focus. All of those things," he said.
"But I don't believe you play statement games in December.
George had a 14-foot jumper that gave the Pacers an early 20-11
lead, but the Blazers hung close through the first half. Mo
Williams, who helped Portland keep up with seven points, had
three fouls and was sent to the bench.
The Blazers finished out the first half with a 9-3 run to get
within 46-45 at the break.
Aldridge's dunk pulled Portland within 59-54 midway through the
third quarter, but George answered with an 18-foot jumper on the
other end for Indiana. Orlando Johnson's 3-pointer extended the
lead to 64-56 and it looked as if the Pacers were pulling away.
But Aldridge hit a flat 20-foot jumper and made a free throw and
Joel Freeland dunked to even it at 70. Lillard hit a 3-pointer
and the Blazers took a 75-72 lead, their first of the game.
Portland went up 86-78 on Wesley Matthews' 3-pointer to make it
86-78.
Matthews was asked afterward what the win meant: "That we're a
pretty damn good team," he replied.
It was Aldridge's 14th game this season with 20 or more points.
The two-time All-Star has eight double-doubles this season.
"They're good," Aldridge said. "I just had one of those nights."
NOTES: It was Portland guard Lillard's 100th career game. He is
third NBA player ever to start his first 100 games. ... Among
those at the game was Portland native Galen Rupp, who won the
silver in the 10,000 meters at the London Olympics. ... Former
Blazers coach Nate McMillan is an assistant to Vogel in Indiana.
... It was just the second time Indiana had given up 100 points
this season. ... The Blazers are 8-0 this season against Eastern
Conference teams. ... Indiana's David West reached his 11,000th
career point in the second quarter. West, a 10-year veteran,
finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists. ...
George Hill matched his career high with 11 assists. ... Pacers
starter Lance Stephenson fouled out with just under 5 minutes
left.
[Associated
Press; ANNE M. PETERSON, AP Sports Writer]
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