Basisphilosophie » volley hit Asenjo before landing in

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Portland Trail Blazers braced themselves for a late onslaught from Kevin Durant. They still failed to stop him. The 6-foot-9 forward scored 11 of his 46 points in the final 3:23 to help the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Trail Blazers 105-97 on Tuesday night. "When the basket is an ocean, you cant really do much about it," Portland guard Wesley Matthews said. "Hes been on a roll." Durant has scored at least 30 points for eight consecutive games, the longest such streak of his career. He made 17 of 25 field goals, including 6 of 7 3-pointers. "He did what hes been doing the last two weeks," Portland guard Damian Lillard said. "You look up, hes hitting 50 and 45 and 50 again and 40 and up. We knew coming in that hes been shooting the ball well." Reggie Jackson added 15 points for Oklahoma City (32-10), which took a one-game lead over Portland in the Northwest Division. Oklahoma City improved to 9-5 since point guard Russell Westbrook was taken out of the lineup after having surgery on his right knee. LaMarcus Aldridge had 29 points and 16 rebounds, but he went 1-for-8 from the field in the fourth quarter. Durant said Aldridges late struggles might have been a combination good defence by Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka and the Trail Blazers being worn out from their loss to Houston the night before. "Perk and Serge did a great job early on contesting LaMarcus jump shot, but hes a great player and he was knocking them down," Durant said. "In the fourth quarter, of course, after playing last night, hes a little tired. We forced him all the way out close to the 3-point line and made him shoot some tough ones and we were able to rebound and hit shots on the other end." Matthews added 21 points for Portland (31-11), which lost its last two games of a four-game road trip. "Pissed," Matthews said. "Were not happy. Last year we were happy coming off a road trip at .500. Were not that team any more. We didnt come out with the right energy and the right mentality against Houston and they were ready for us. We came out with the right mentality early in this game and KD had a hell of a fourth quarter, so its bitter." Oklahoma City held Lillard to 14 points, well below his average of 21.4 points per game. Portland led 93-90 when Durant was called for an offensive foul. Durant was unhappy after the call, and after Perkins was called for a foul, Durant, still frustrated, hit the scorers table and was issued a technical foul. Portland made two of the three free throws to go up by five. A fired-up Durant responded with a layup, then a 3-pointer to tie the score with 2:52 remaining. "It was really a stupid, stupid reaction by me," Durant said. "I could have hurt my team really badly. I was just more frustrated with myself, turning the ball over. I cant hurt my team like that. This time, it went in our direction. Next time, Ive got to be smarter." Durant seemed to reach another gear after the technical, though. He hit a 3 with 48 seconds left to give the Thunder a 102-95 lead, then another with 26.8 seconds remaining to ice the game. Portland led 48-40 late in the second quarter before Durant sparked a rally with a 3-pointer. The Thunder took the lead with 8.3 seconds left in the first half on a jumper by Thabo Sefolosha, but Lillard responded with a layup with 0.2 seconds left to give the Trail Blazers a 52-51 lead at the break. Portland shot 57 per cent in the first half. Durant scored 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting in the first half, but his teammates shot 13 for 38. Durants jumper early in the second half finally gave the Thunder the lead, but the Trail Blazers handled the surge. A 3-pointer by Nicolas Batum and a bucket from Aldridge gave Portland a 67-62 lead and caused Oklahoma City to call a timeout. The Trail Blazers extended their lead to 75-66, but again, the Thunder closed out a quarter strong. Oklahoma City held Portland scoreless for the last 2:35 of the period. Durant hit a 3-pointer to close the quarter and give the Thunder a 77-75 lead. Portland made just one field goal in the final 3:45. "Total team effort," Durant said. "We didnt get discouraged after they hit tough shots and we missed shots, and we got a good win." The Thunder play at San Antonio on Wednesday night with the top record in the Western Conference on the line. "We know how tough it is to win there," Durant said. "We know how tough that team is. Youve just got to come prepared and with a lot of energy. I think our group is ready to come out there and play our game, and well see what happens." NOTES: Thunder coach Scott Brooks said he plans to vote for Lillard as an All-Star. ... Batum had been playing with a broken left middle finger. He aggravated the injury to his non-shooting hand on Monday night against Houston, but played through it. ... Portland scored the first seven points of the game. ... Durant scored 15 in the first quarter. ... Portland shot 59 per cent in the first quarter to take a 27-21 lead. ... Aldridge became the first NBA player with at least 11 field goals and 12 rebounds in five straight games Antonio McDyess did it from Jan. 3-10, 2001. Tyler Lydon Jersey . - Whether its because of her improved play or the reason for it, Michelle Wie appears as comfortable on and off the golf course as at any time in her career. Trey Lyles Jersey . -- Houston Rockets coach Kevin McHale searched more than three quarters for five guys who would play well together. http://www.nuggetsprostore.com/kids-jameer-nelson-nuggets-jersey/ . The Los Angeles Clippers showed them just how ugly that life could be. Jared Dudley scored a season-high 21 points, Chris Paul added 16 points and 17 assists, and the Clippers jumped all over the Bulls in Roses absence for a 121-82 victory Sunday. Denver Nuggets Jerseys . FIFA said in a statement Friday that "several racist and discriminatory incidents were apparently perpetrated by local supporters during the match, in particular by displaying neo-Nazi banners and by making monkey noises and gestures as well as Nazi salutes. Kenneth Faried Jersey . - The New York Rangers have momentum, a unified locker room and Henrik Lundqvist.BARCELONA, Spain -- Real Madrid forwards Gareth Bale and Jese Rodriguez each scored and set up goals for Karim Benzema in a 4-2 win over Villarreal on Saturday, giving the powerhouse a share of the Spanish league lead after Atletico Madrid stumbled to a 2-0 loss at Almeria. With leading scorer Cristiano Ronaldo serving the first of a three-game suspension, Bale stepped up by opening in the seventh minute at the Santiago Bernabeu before he crossed for Benzemas first goal in the 25th. After Villarreals Mario Gaspar struck in the 43rd, Jese took what proved to be Madrids winner in the 64th before Villarreal forward Giovani Dos Santos curled in a free kick in the 69th. Jese found Benzema for his double in the 76th. If any Madrid supporters were worried how their team would fare without Ronaldo and his league-leading 22 goals, they neednt have as Carlo Ancelottis side extended its unbeaten streak to 23 games in all competitions. Instead of struggling, Benzema recorded his 12th and 13th league goals, Bale provided more arguments he was worthy of his world-record transfer, and the 20-year-old Jese gave Madrids fans more hope they have finally found their next homegrown star. "Its great to be back on the pitch and get a goal and an assist as well," Bale, who had missed two games with a leg injury, said. "(Cristiano) is obviously missed. He is the worlds best player. We knew we had to do the job without him." Also, Valencia rolled over bottom-side Real Betis 5-0 as it continued to show its turnaround under coach Juan Pizzi, while Rayo Vallecano broke a run of six home losses by humbling 10-man Malaga 4-1 to move to within two points of safety. Atletico failed to rebound from its 3-0 Copa del Rey defeat at Madrid on Wednesday as it lost for just the second time in 23 league matches in this campaign. It has dropped seven points in the last five rounds. Almeria stifled its attack and a pair of mistakes by back-up goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia, starting for the injured Thibaut Courtois, doomed Diego Simeones side. After Almeria forward Aleix Vidals shot came off both posts, Aranzubia llet Jose "Verza" Garcias cross fall over his head in the 80th.dddddddddddd The veteran goalie compounded that in the 86th by losing the ball to Jonathan Zongos pressure and earning a questionable red card as he dove to recover the ball. Verza slotted the spot kick past midfielder Gabi Fernandez, who had to defend the net with all three changes already made. To make matters worse, Atletico midfielder Tiago Cardoso was carried off with a leg injury after he received a hard tackle midway through the second half. "We dont look for excuses," Simeone said. "The only way we know how to continue forward in the same fashion that got us here is to keep on working. What concerns me most about today is Tiago." Barcelona trails Atletico and Madrid by three points before it visits Sevilla on Sunday. Bale seemed particularly eager to take charge with Ronaldo out, and he was helped to start the scoring by defender Jose Dorados bad decision-making and even poorer execution. Dorado unwisely tried to dribble around Bale instead of passing to a nearby teammate. The Wales winger pounced on his clumsy touch to steal the ball, press forward unchallenged, and coolly chip helpless goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo. Bale then used a burst of speed to leave behind Jaume Costa on the right flank before crossing for Benzema, whose short-range volley hit Asenjo before landing in the net. Villarreal, however, didnt wilt and Gaspar drilled the ball inside the far corner of the goalframe to halve the deficit before halftime. Madrid lost left back Marcelo to injury when he gingerly walked off the pitch in the 18th, and his replacement, Fabio Coentrao, didnt return after halftime, apparently due to injury. Alvaro Arbeloa took his place. Jese ran onto Angel Di Marias incisive pass before he slipped the ball around Asenjo with a sly touch using the outside of his right boot to make it 3-1. Again Villarreal wasnt done, and Dos Santos bent his left-footed free kick over the barrier, but Jese steered a Madrid counterattack before squaring for Benzema to fire home and secure the three points. ' ' '