The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder with a final score of 117-106 in Game 2 of the NBA Playoffs first round. The Blazers took advantage of their home court, as well as the absence of Thunder's star player, Russell Westbrook, to secure the win.
Damian Lillard led the Blazers with 29 points and 6 assists, followed by CJ McCollum with 33 points and 8 rebounds. Enes Kanter also stepped up with 20 points and 18 rebounds in the absence of injured center Jusuf Nurkic.
The Thunder struggled without Westbrook, who was ruled out of the game due to a dislocated finger. Paul George carried the team with 27 points and 8 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Blazers' strong performance.
The Blazers dominated the first half, leading by as much as 10 points. The Thunder managed to cut the lead to 5 in the third quarter, but the Blazers pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Thunder 37-28.
The win gives the Blazers a 2-0 lead in the series, with the next two games being played in Oklahoma City. The Thunder will need to regroup and find a way to contain Lillard and McCollum if they want to avoid being eliminated in the first round for the third consecutive year.
The Blazers, on the other hand, will look to maintain their momentum and take advantage of the home court once again in Game 3. With Nurkic out for the rest of the playoffs, Kanter will need to continue his strong performance and provide support for Lillard and McCollum.
Overall, the Blazers' victory can be attributed to their strong performance at home and the absence of Westbrook. However, it is important to note that the series is far from over, and the Thunder still have a chance to come back and make a statement.