Game Preview: Trail Blazers-Kings
While LaMarcus Aldridge displayed a new dimension to his game right off the bat in the Portland Trail Blazers' opener, it took fellow All-Star Damian Lillard a lot longer to find his rhythm.
With the Blazers going after their first road-opening win since 2010, DeMarcus Cousins hopes to help the Kings avoid starting 0-2 at home for the first time in 17 years Friday night.
Aldridge has been working on his long-range shot, but he surprised many by knocking down a 3-pointer for his first bucket in Wednesday's 106-89 home win over Oklahoma City.
"I don't think anyone was thinking my first shot would be a long 3, so it was pretty cool," said the three-time All-Star power forward, who had a team-high 27 points but did not attempt another 3.
As Aldridge went 3 for 15 from beyond the arc in 2013-14, Lillard finished third in the league with 218 3-pointers and topped the Blazers in accuracy (39.4 percent).
Lillard, though, missed all five of his 3-point attempts through three quarters Wednesday, and Portland trailed by two. However, he hit a pair of 3s in the fourth, scoring seven of his 10 points in the quarter as the Blazers took control.
"I didn't want to force my rhythm on to the game," said Lillard, who was 3 of 10 from the field. "I knew there would come a point where I needed to attack or make a shot or make a play, and that time came."
Wesley Matthews added 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting with five 3s for the Blazers, who now look to win a road opener for the first time in four years. Their 23-18 road record last season was their best since 2009-10.
Sacramento appeared very beatable at home in its opener, losing 95-77 to Golden State on Wednesday despite Cousins' 20 points and 11 rebounds. The bruising center had his way with Portland last season, averaging 33.3 points and 11.5 boards, but the Kings dropped three of four meetings.
Cousins, Aldridge and Kevin Love were the only players to finish in the top 10 in both scoring and rebounding in 2013-14. His 22.0-point career average against the Blazers is his highest versus any Western Conference opponent.
Despite finishing with a double-double Wednesday - he was third in the NBA with 53 last season - Cousins made just 4 of 14 shots, committed six turnovers and battled foul trouble. Rudy Gay shot 5 for 15, new addition Darren Collison was 4 of 12 and rookie Nik Stauskas hit 3 for 10.
The Kings finished with 27 turnovers and 24 field goals, shooting 30.8 percent overall.
"I think it was at 5:40 in the third quarter when we were up by one, and we turned into the Keystone Cops," coach Michael Malone said.
Sacramento hasn't dropped its first two home games since an 0-3 start in 1997.
Gay, held to 14 points Wednesday, has totaled 62 in his last two meetings with the Blazers.
Lillard matched a career low with four points in a 96-85 win at Sacramento on Nov. 9, but scored a career-high 41 in a 123-119 loss there Jan. 7.