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Tough start for for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA as Derrick Rose returned with the Chicago Bulls

By Allsports.com.gh
Sports News Tough start for for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA as Derrick Rose returned with the Chicago Bulls
OCT 30, 2014 LISTEN

Portland piled on 31 points to 12 in the final quarter at the Moda Center, with LaMarcus Aldridge (27 points) and Wesley Matthews (22) leading the way for the Trail Blazers.

While Russell Westbrook (38 points) battled gamely for the Thunder, the absence of Durant, as well as Reggie Jackson and Jeremy Lamb, meant Scott Brooks' side struggled in Oregon.

With Durant expected to remain on the sidelines until November after foot surgery, the Thunder look set for a tough start to the NBA campaign.

Oklahoma City led by five points at the end of the first term and held that advantage at half-time but Portland surged in the second half in front of their home fans to register a win in their season-opening match.

Robin Lopez (11 points, 10 rebounds) produced a double-double, while Nicolas Batum scored 16 points for the Trail Blazers.

In New York, Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose played his first regular season game in almost a year as his team overcame the home-town Knicks 104-80.

Rose had not played a regular season game for the Bulls since November 22, 2013, but produced a solid performance on return from his second serious knee injury.

The 26-year-old scored 13 points in Chicago's triumph, while Pau Gasol (21 points, 11 rebounds) was the Bulls' best player.

Taj Gibson (22 points) also performed strongly for Chicago, with Carmelo Anthony (14) top-scoring for the Knicks.

The Charlotte Hornets came from 13 points down with a quarter to play to trump the Milwaukee Bucks 108-106, the Boston Celtics held off the Brooklyn Nets to win 121-105 and the Miami Heat started life without LeBron James on the right side of the ledger - defeating the Washington Wizards 107-95.

The Phoenix Suns had few issues dispatching the Los Angeles Lakers 119-99, the Golden State Warriors kept the Sacramento Kings to less than 30 points in the second half to win 95-77 and the Houston Rockets defeated the Utah Jazz 104-93.

The Indiana Pacers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 103-91, the Toronto Raptors prevailed 109-102 against the Atlanta Hawks, the Memphis Grizzlies edged out the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-101 and the Denver Nuggets cruised past the Detroit Pistons 89-79.

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