Aldridge outduels Howard as Blazers win classic, take 2-0 series lead to Portland
Move over Toronto and Brooklyn, there's a new front-runner for "best series of the first round" so far. Portland and Houston followed up their Game 1 overtime barn-burner with another classic tilt, highlighted by LaMarcus Aldridge and Dwight Howard engaging in battle. Aldridge and the Blazers once again got the edge, hanging on for a 112-105 victory and a deadly 2-0 series lead heading home to Portland on Friday.
Star Performer
Like in Game 1, the Portland offense was all about LaMarcus Aldridge and his otherworldly mid-range game. Aldridge finished with 43 points on 18-of-28 shooting, with only an 0-of-2 mark with a turnover in the game's final two-and-a-half minutes blemishing his outing.
Damian Lillard's clutch free throws (six in the final 42 seconds) and Howard's performance also stand out, but it was all Lunch Meat in this one. To wit, Aldridge is the first player since LeBron James in 2009 to have back-to-back 40-point playoff games.
[Courtesy: ESPN]
Turning Point
How about tip-off? Aldridge came out shooting 5-of-6 in the game's first 5:19. If that's too early, look to the 6:31 mark of the fourth quarter, when Howard picked up his fifth foul and had to take a near three-minute rest, during which Houston held serve but couldn't make up any ground on Portland's five-point lead.
Highlight Reel
Another key storyline in Game 2 was the lackluster performance of James Harden, who managed just 18 points and played horrendous defense. For example:
Naturally, with games as strong as they both had, Aldridge and Howard also traded highlights:
Quotes of the Game
#Blazers owner Paul Allen, GM Neil Olshey and entire coaching staff waited for each player to make it to locker room to applaud on arrival.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) April 24, 2014
LaMarcus Aldridge's 89 points in 1st 2 playoff games are fewer than only Michael Jordan (1986, 1988) and Jerry West (1965) in last 50 years.
— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) April 24, 2014
LaMarcus Aldridge is the first NBA player with consecutive playoff games of 43 points or more since Tracy McGrady (April 20-23, 2003).
— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) April 24, 2014
Best strategy for Houston is to put Harden on Aldridge. He might die laughing.
— Myles Brown (@mdotbrown) April 24, 2014
Series at a glance
Game 1: POR 122, HOU 120 (OT) (Blazers lead 1-0)
Game 2: POR 112, HOU 105 (Blazers lead 2-0)
Game 3: Friday, April 25 - 10:30 p.m.
Game 4: Sunday, April 27 - 9:30 p.m.
Game 5*: Wednesday, April 30 - 9:30 p.m.
Game 6*: Friday, May 2 - TBD
Game 7*: Sunday, May 4 - TBD