Game 1 between the Thunder and Trail Blazers came down to the wire. A crucial Game 2 should be just as exciting. Here’s how to watch.
Just about everything broke right for the Trail Blazers in Game 1. Paul George’s shoulder looked to be bothering him and he had one of the worst shooting performances of his playoff career. At the other end, Damian Lillard was drilling 3s from the logo. Enes Kanter had a monster double-double and played passably and engaged enough on defense that he didn’t just give it back at the other end. And still, they needed every possession to eke out a five-point win.
These two teams are very evenly matched and Game 2 could very well go right down to the wire again. The Thunder’s shooters struggled in Game 1 but they don’t have a ton of outside shooting to begin with and they simply need George to be better. That may not be possible if his injury is continuing to cause pain but it’s really the only viable path to an upset for Oklahoma City. The Thunder will also continue to test Kanter in the pick-and-roll and see how long his attention and effort can hold up at that end. If the Blazers starting springing leaks in the middle of the floor, things become a lot easier for George and Russell Westbrook.
Below is everything you’ll need to watch Game 2.
Date: Tuesday, Apr. 16
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Location: Portland, OR
Venue: Moda Center
TV Info: TNT
Live Stream: Qualified subscribers can watch on the WatchTNT app or on FuboTV (sign-up for a free trial).
Projection models saw this first-round series as one of the most evenly matched in either conference. It certainly appeared that way in Game 1 and here’s hoping for another great one in Game 2.