Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Riots spread as Greek lawmakers OK debt bill

Blazers crush Bulls in Oden's home debut

7-footer records third double-double in four games in 116-74 win

Bulls Trail Blazers BasketballAP
Joakim Noah, center, loses a rebound to Portland's Greg Oden during the first half of the Blazers' blowout of the Bulls. Oden finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

PORTLAND, Ore. - A sellout crowd of 20,599 fans showed up at the Rose Garden watch Greg Oden make his home debut with the Portland Trail Blazers.

By the time Oden, sidelined all of last season by a knee injury, entered the game with 4:28 left in the first quarter, the show was already on in the Trail Blazers’ 116-74 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.

When Oden entered to a standing ovation, the Blazers had a 23-7 lead. Oden didn’t wait long to contribute, dunking 21 seconds after coming off the bench.

Playing 17 minutes, the 2007 first overall draft pick had 11 points, 10 rebounds and blocked three shots. Oden played in Portland’s season debut in Los Angeles, then missed the next six games because of a foot injury.

“It was good for me to finally be home,” Oden said. “Just to be home and finally have my people see me play was great.”

Brandon Roy scored 20 points to help Portland improve to 6-2 in its last eight and 7-5 overall. Chicago has lost four of its last six to fall to 5-7.

Portland outscored Chicago in every quarter and established season highs for points in the first half (62) and game. Portland shot nearly 51 percent from the field (42-of-83) and outrebounded Chicago 49-33.

The Blazers said they were motivated after a loss to Golden State on Tuesday.

“I’m proud of the way we bounced back. We wanted to dominate these guys for 48 minutes,” said Roy, who played 28 minutes in the blowout.

Oden made three field goals, two on dunks, and was 5-of-6 from the line. Oden’s best play came on defense during the fourth quarter, when he blocked consecutive shots by Chicago’s Tyrus Thomas.

“I’m just focusing on defense and rebounding right now. Everything else is just extra,” said Oden, who had a double-double for the third time in four games. Portland fans weren’t the only ones wanting to see Oden’s home debut.

“We’ve been waiting to get him here, and he did a great job,” Roy said. “He’s a huge part of what we are trying to do.”

Oden overshadowed the performance of Joel Przybilla, who scored a season-high 14 points and had nine rebounds and three blocks. Przybilla didn’t escape the attention of Blazers coach Nate McMillan, however.

“I think Joel is setting a great example for what we want from a ’big’ at the defensive end,” McMillan said. “It’s good for Greg to see that from Joel to get a good idea of what we want from him.”

The game featured the No. 1 overall picks the last two years, Oden from 2007 and Chicago guard Derrick Rose from 2008. It turned out to be a mere sidebar because of the score. Rose was 1-of-8 from the field and scored a season-low six points, his first single-digit performance in the NBA.

Portland led from the first basket, a 3-pointer by Nicolas Batum. The Blazers built on the 16-3 lead with a 9-0 run later in the first quarter to take a 34-13 advantage into the second quarter. Led by Roy and Oden in the second quarter, the Blazers took a 62-32 lead before settling for a 25-point advantage at halftime.

Click for related content

The third quarter was more of the same. Leading 68-47 midway through the quarter, Portland put the game away with a 14-0 run, highlighted by a lob pass from Roy to LaMarcus Aldridge for a dunk. The Blazers led by as many as 47 points. Andres Nocioni led Chicago with 13 points.

Notes: Chicago forward Luol Deng missed the game because of a groin injury. He was hurt Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers. His status is day to day. ... The Blazers, 4-0 in the Rose Garden, are one of three teams without a loss at home this season. The others are Utah and Cleveland. Foul trouble plagued Chicago’s post players during the first half, as Joakim Noah had five fouls, Drew Gooden three. ... The game was Chicago’s second on a seven-game trip.

© 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

advertisement
More news
Image: Kobe Bryant
AP
Kobe's shot lifts Lakers

Kobe Bryant hit a baseline jump shot with 4.2 seconds left and the Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up a six-game road trip by holding on to beat the Raptors 94-92 on Sunday, their eighth victory in nine meetings with Toronto

Special feature
Image: Derrick Rose, David Stern
Race for Rookie of the Year
Special feature: There's plenty of play remaining for a talented group to catch front-runners Derrick Rose and O.J. Mayo.

NBCSports.com

  ProBasketballTalk tweets

  1. Loading the latest posts…

Source: Twitter. For more, follow @basketballtalk.

Video: NBA from NBC Sports
Knicks, Lin still streaking
Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni and point guard Jeremy Lin discuss the team and Lin's recent success.

Slideshow
Washington Wizards v Charlotte Bobcats
  Get your cheer on
Check out some of the dancers from the NBA.

more photos

  Ask the NBA expert: Ira Winderman

Do you have a burning NBA question? Submit it now, and then check back for our reader mailbag.

Special feature
Image: LeBron James
Who will be MVP?
Interactive: Rank each player on a scale of 0 to 10 (10 = best player, 0 = barely worthy of consideration).

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image: Blake Griffin
  NBA All-Star starters
A look at the starting lineups for the East and West teams.

more photos

Slideshow
Image: Snee, 8, son of New York Giants player Chris Snee and head coach Coughlin's grandson plays in the confetti after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis
  The Week in Sports Pictures
The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more.

more photos