Quickcap: Blazers outlast Spurs - 115-105

Road SEGABABA's are bad enough without spotting the home team a double digit first half lead. The Spurs recovered from their early game woes yesterday against the Lakers, but were unable to string enough stops together to come back against the Trail Blazers in Portland, and drop their first game despite a late rally that pulled them within three with 19 seconds to go.

In what is now a regular occurrence when matched up against San Antonio, the Blazers shot lights out for nearly the entire game. LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 and 7 on 11-17 shooting, Damian Lillard has 7 assists, dropped 25 points and was 7-16 from the field although it seemed as though he hardly missed all night. Wesley Matthews hit on 8 of 13 for 20 of his own, and Nicolas Batum and Robin Lopez went for 11 and 12 points respectively as the entire starting lineup scored in double digits and Portland shot 55.6% as a team.

The Spurs can overcome games like that from their oppenents, but not when they only shoot eight three-pointers all night long. Tim Duncan had a nice game with 24 and 7, and Marco Belinelli scored 19 on 8-12 shooting, but Tony Parker needed twenty shots to get his 17, Manu Ginobili took twelve for his 11, and the Spurs were unable to keep pace with a Portland team that simply couldn't miss.

More from Pounding The Rock:

• The rumors of Ginobili's demise were greatly exaggerated
• J.R. Wilco talks about the Spurs win over the Grizzlies on The Phil Naessens Show
• Quick Cap: Spurs escape from LA with 91-85 win
• Morning Rehash: Spurs grind out win over Lakers, 91-85
• Manu Ginobili's interview with Argentine paper Ole (translated)