Basketball: Steven Adams scores 16 but OKC Thunder drop second straight game

By Christopher Reive

NZ Herald·

10 Jan, 2018 03:12 AM2 mins to read

Steven Adams' Oklahoma City Thunder were unable to keep up with the Portland Trailblazers. Photo / Photosport.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have fallen to their second straight loss, going down 117-106 to the Portland Trailblaizers in Oklahoma City on Wednesday (NZ time).

Kiwi big man Steven Adams added to his All-Star bid with a strong performance, however the Thunder got next to no contribution from their bench and paid the price.

Big Kiwi over the top from Russ on @FoxSportsOK #NBAVote Steven Adams pic.twitter.com/jELpGnUxoJ
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 10, 2018

Russell Westbrook (22 points, nine rebounds, 12 assists), Paul George (22), Carmelo Anthony (19) and Adams (16) were getting the job done offensively for the Thunder. However with the reserves contributing just 27 points - 13 of which came from back-up point guard Raymond Felton - the hosts couldn't keep up with the free-scoring Portland side.

It was expected to be a close game between the fifth and sixth seeded teams in the Western Conference, and the first quarter delivered just that as the Thunder (fifth seed) held a slim two point lead after the first 12 minutes.

Despite being without star guard Damian Lillard for the match, the Trailblazers came right back at OKC with plenty of production from guard CJ McCollum and centre Jusuf Nurkic to hold a four point lead at half time.

It might have been close coming out of the break, but a 21-8 run put the Trailblazers up 81-68 toward the end of the third quarter, with McCollum leading the way. He had 15 points in the quarter and three assists.

TWENTY-ONE TO SIX RUN, BLAZERS!

81-68, us. 3:25 to go in the third. pic.twitter.com/Sd2NaMVkEN
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 10, 2018

. @CJMcCollum's third quarter:

7/9 from the field
15 pts.
3 ast.#NBAVote pic.twitter.com/nGTymckMRV
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 10, 2018

It proved to be a game-winning performance as the Thunder couldn't do enough to come back in the final 12 minutes.

The Thunder are now exaclty halfway through their season and hold a 22-19 record, and they won't have to wait long to try improve on that, heading to Minneapolis to face to Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday (NZT).