Blazers: Wesley Matthews' red-hot shooting helps Trail Blazers beat Clippers

[tlongII]

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/in...incart_m-rpt-1

After starting the preseason with two losses against rebuilding Utah, the Trail Blazers put on a strong offensive performance as they beat the Los Angeles Clippers 119-114 Sunday before 17,784 at the Moda Center.

Wesley Matthews torched the Clippers from outside as he scored 22 points, and CJ McCollum, starting an NBA game for the first time, added 19 points and six assists. Portland shot 54 percent from the field and 68 percent from three-point range and had 28 assists in the win.

The Blazers beat the Clippers -- who won 57 games and were the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference last season -- with All-Star point guard Damian Lillard sitting out and All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge struggling to make shots. Aldridge shot 4 for 13 from the field -- although he repeatedly got to the free-throw line, where he shot 8 for 8 -- and finished with 16 points and five assists.

Nicolas Batum added 13 points as the Blazers starters built a lead that reach as high as 14 points in the third quarter.

Portland finished the game with a young lineup of McCollum, Will Barton, Allen Crabbe, Thomas Robinson and Joel Freeland, who were matched against the Clippers' veteran-laden bench. The Blazers withstoood a late run by the Clippers, who cut the lead to two points with 3:53 left, before McCollum made nice plays to set up two dunks by Robinson and added a three-pointer to help sew up the win.

What might have been vs. what is: The Blazers got a first-hand look at one of the players they pursued in free agency. Spencer Hawes, who signed with the Clippers instead (reportedly for the same terms Portland offered), had a strong game, with 15 points and six rebounds. Hawes shot 3 for 6 on threes, displaying a trait that made him attractive to Portland.

The big man Portland signed instead, Chris Kaman, had his third strong preseason game, with 12 points and nine rebounds. Kaman, who is more of an inside scorer than Hawes, shot 5 for 8 from the field.

Red-hot night: Matthews had one of those can't-miss nights he gets on occasion as he shot 6 for 7 on three-pointers for most of his 22 points. He became the first player in the league this preseason to make six threes in a game.

Since joining the Blazers in 2010-11, Matthews has 27 regular-season games in which he has made at least five three-pointers, the third highest total in the span, behind on Stephen Curry and Ryan Anderson.

Matthews also had four rebounds and an assist and finished 8 for 13 from the field in 24 minutes.

Point guard experiment: With Lillard sitting out his second consecutive game, coach Terry Stotts opted to experiment instead of sliding Lillard's backup, Steve Blake, into the starting five. Instead, he had McCollum start the first half in Lillard's spot, then had Will Barton start the second half in the same role.

McCollum played well in his half with the starters, getting 10 points, two assists and a steal while shooting 4 for 6 from the field and 2 for 4 from three-point range. McCollum, who played the point guard role in his stint, did not have a turnover in the half.

Barton and Batum split the ball-handling duties to start the second half, and the Blazers' offense continued to click.

Blake, who got to play with the second-unit players he will normally team with, finished with five points, seven assists and five rebounds.

Injury update: Lillard took his second consecutive preseason game off to heal his sprained left foot, which was injured during the exhibition opener at Utah on Tuesday. Also, big man Meyers Leonard did not dress because of a neck injury that the team called a "thoracic strain." It was unclear when Leonard sustained the injury, but Stotts said it was bothering Leonard during practice Saturday.

Coming up: The Blazers don't play again until Friday, when they host Maccabi Haifa from Israel at 7 p.m. They will hold a film session and make a community appearance at Boise-Eliot/Humboldt School on Monday, then will hold three crucial days of practice, Stotts said.

"We need to take advantage of that time to get things in, situations, zone offense, zone defense, just a lot of different things," Stotts said. "It gives us a chance to incorporate a lot of things because the following week, with three games in four nights, we won't have that opportunity."

[JamStone]

I've liked Wes Matthews' game ever since he got into the league. He's wildly inconsistent though. Some nights, he looks like Ray Allen who can also defend. Other nights, he looks like a poor man's Allan Ray. I actually expected Wes to become a star in the league by now. But he's getting to an age and point in his career that if he doesn't break out into a star this season or next season, it probably won't happen at all. He's had great shooting nights before. It happens a handful of times during the season. Would like to see him sustain his level of play more consistently throughout the season.

[tlongII]

Wes is a "glue guy". Great teammate and extremely tough. I don't expect him to ever be a star in the league, but he's a very good player.

[scanry]

Not this again. We've had a good summer tlong. Don't start ruining it now.

[Spur-Addict]

Wes played great against Harden in the playoffs last year.

[Jodelo]

Did i missed the threads you created after their first two games?

[spurraider21]

is this back?

[tlongII]

Oh, it's back alright.

[Girasuck]

Oh, it's back alright.

At least be consistent and post this when they get embarrassed by the worst team in the league two straight games, ok?

[tlongII]

At least be consistent and post this when they get embarrassed by the worst team in the league two straight games, ok?

No.

[Drachen]

Non - issue

[unforeseen]

[Calispursfan11]

haha Frozen a favorite Blazer movie?

[Sean Cagney]

Oh for GODS sakes, the man who created Guests is back and ready to post on the board every win they get, even in the pre season.

[The Reckoning]

movie stats are funny. spurs are old we get i.