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Reporter notebook: Blazers rout Thunder 114-94 to take 2-0 series lead

Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum combined to score 62 points and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 114-94 to take a commanding 2-0 series lead in their best-of-7 first-round series.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum combined to score 62 points and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 114-94 to take a commanding 2-0 series lead in their best-of-7 first-round series.

The Blazers shot 47% from the field, 41% from the 3-point line and turned the ball over only 12 times. As good as their offense was, the Blazers' defense may have been even more impressive.

Portland limited the Thunder, a team that averaged 114.5 points per game during the regular season, to just 94 points. They forced 16 turnovers (which turned into 23 points for the Blazers), and limited the Thunder to 41% shooting from the field and 18% from the 3-point line.

BOX SCORE: Trail Blazers 114, Thunder 94

Oklahoma City made 5 of 28 3-pointers in Game 2 and have now shot 10 for 61 (16%) from distance in the first two games of this series.

Lillard, who hit four 3-pointers and finished with 29 points, six assists, four rebounds, three steals and two blocks on Tuesday night, spent much of Game 2 defending Thunder star Russell Westbrook. The Thunder's star point guard was held to 14 points on 5-of-20 shooting, including 1 for 6 from the 3-point line.

"Dame is really focused on both ends of the floor," Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts said. "He knows how important it is at both ends of the floor. To be honest, Dame's defense has improved over time and I think he's a much better defensive player than people give him credit for, but there's no question he was locked in tonight."

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: Trail Blazers beat Thunder 114-94

After the game, Westbrook took the blame for the loss.

"I've got to play better," Westbrook said. "Tonight, the loss, I'm going to take full responsibility of tonight because the way I played was unacceptable. I'm going to be better."

Paul George, who continues to play with an injured shoulder, led the Thunder with 27 points, but against struggled to make 3-pointers. He made 9 of 13 shots from inside the 3-point line, but missed five of his seven 3-pointers. He's now missed 16 of his 22 attempts in this series.

Though George has struggled to shoot the ball since he was injured in late February, but Stotts credited Maurice Harkless, who had 14 points and nine rebounds, and Al-Farouq Aminu for their defense against George.

"Tonight, in this series, their defense is really important," Stotts said. "The fact that we're able to have different guys guard Paul George in this series is important for us, and those two guys are charged with that."

McCollum led the Blazers with 33 points on an efficient 12-for-22 shooting night. He made three of his seven 3-point attempts, and chipped in eight rebounds, five assists and a steal.

"My body feels good," said McCollum, playing in his fourth game since the layoff because of a left knee strain. "Coming off an injury, being able to get into a rhythm and get up and down. Being able to find that rhythm is very important to me."

Enes Kanter, signed just before the All-Star break after he was waived by the New York Knicks, had 20 points and 18 rebounds in Game 1 but finished with six points and five rebounds on Tuesday.

At one point in the first half, Kanter got knocked in the hand and X-rays at halftime revealed a contusion. But he said following the game that he'd be fine for Game 3.

The series now shifts to Oklahoma City, with Game 3 on Friday and Game 4 on Sunday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Reporter notebook

KGW's Orlando Sanchez and Jared Cowley were at the Moda Center on Tuesday to cover Game 2. They reported on social media before, during and after the game. Here's a look at what they saw.

Postgame

Fourth quarter

Third quarter

Second quarter

First quarter

Pregame

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