Behind another backcourt takeover, Blazers grab 3-1 lead over Thunder

Despite missing star center Jusuf Nurkic and facing a dangerous Oklahoma City Thunder team, the Portland Trail Blazers are suddenly a win away from their first series win in three years.

Starting with an 11-0 run to close out the first half, the Blazers quickly pulled away from the Thunder and notched a 111-98 Game 4 win to take a 3-1 lead in the series.

At the center of the Blazers’ win was a dramatic difference in point guard play, usually the Thunder’s avenue for winning games. Damian Lillard continued what has been a stellar series, posting 24 points on 7-of-19 shooting and eight assists, with 15 points coming in a pivotal third quarter.

Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook posted a grand total of one point in the second half. The Thunder star finished a game to forget with 14 points on 5-of-21 shooting. He probably isn’t going to want to talk about that.

Lillard’s co-star for the game was, who else, C.J. McCollum, who had a team-high 27 points. While Lillard’s third-quarter performance gave the Blazers the lead, it was McCollum’s fourth quarter that kept the Thunder from mounting a true comeback.

Now, the Blazers find themselves needing just one win in the next three games, two of them at home, to advance.

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