PORTLAND, Ore. - The comparisons to the Portland Trail Blazers remain a constant for the Thunder. But the Blazers used Monday's game at the Rose Garden to prove once again that Oklahoma City has a long way to go before coming anywhere close to resembling the talented young squad in the Great Northwest.
Portland led the Thunder by as many as 35 points, and the final horn in the 113-83 thrashing proved to be the only thing that could stop the Blazers. Portland shot 51.1 percent from the field and had five players score in double digits, led by forward Travis Outlaw's game-high 21 points. Brandon Roy scored 20 points, and Greg Oden scored 16 with nine rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench.
It was the Blazers' second blowout victory in 11 days against the Thunder. Portland came into the Ford Center on April 3 and notched a 107-72 victory, holding Oklahoma City to a season-low in points.
On Monday, the Blazers raced to a 14-point lead after one quarter, a 31-point lead at the half and an 85-55 lead entering the fourth.
Earl Watson scored a team-high 16 points with six rebounds and five assists off the bench for the Thunder. Russell Westbrook scored 15 with seven assists.
The Thunder shot 40.2 percent from the field, was outrebounded 54-36 and lost its last lead after Steve Blake's 18-footer tied the score 2-2 with 10:53 to play in the first quarter.
