Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Wednesday SinceYou Asked: SBA would work with Mt. Ashland Ski Area about loan Check It Out: Track Santa's progress Get Up & Go: Dec. 24 Emergency services Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Suspects in Highway 66 pursuit now facing drug charges State police disable pipe bomb on Table Rock Road Friends and family of missing teen organize search Two arrested after high speed chase with stolen car Politics and Elections State certifies recount showing failure of GMO-labeling measure Time running out for O&C funds GMO vote recount still shows little change GMO labeling votes recounted under careful watch in Jackson County Kent Bush: First Amendment doesn’t mean what you think it means Education Ruch school class focuses on the natural environment Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Logos may offer students 'fifth year' at RCC or SOU St. Mary's plays host to youth robotics tournament A lesson in giving Environment Biologist resigns over LNG reporting failure Bird flu discovered in Winston backyard flock Jackson County holds back on enforcing GMO ban for now No fish, no funding for problem dams Most residents speak against gas pipeline State News Portland couple's cat stows away in mattress after sale Police officer shoots armed driver near Reedsport Oregon to step up water quality checks on farms Questions remain in death of Oklahoma teen Impostor makes off with Salvation Army donations in Corvallis, Albany Nation - World Obama makes Maduro’s ‘insolent Yankees’ line harder to sell Obituaries James "Jim" LaRoy Edith J. Winn Death Notices Emile Victor Caloz Donna J. (Hall) Green Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Love helps Cavs beat former team Cato, Shuler lead Marshall past N. Illinois UNLV hands No. 3 Arizona its first loss Lillard delivers as Blazers top Thunder Gore hopes to stay with 49ers beyond this season Varsity 541 College Sports Cato, Shuler lead Marshall past N. Illinois UNLV hands No. 3 Arizona its first loss UO Florida imports eager for matchup More for Marcus Mannion ranked No. 8 QB prospect Pro Sports Love helps Cavs beat former team Lillard delivers as Blazers top Thunder Gore hopes to stay with 49ers beyond this season Special Shots Broncos lead league with nine Pro Bowlers Community Sports Keeping Fit: Runners need to do more than run to stay in shape Business Latest Stories Silvio Calabi: GLA250 is a Merc for the masses Blog: The Holidays Have Arrived Falling gas prices help spur travel at Medford airport Employment in Oregon surpasses pre-recession levels Free lunchtime presentation covers business planning Real Estate News Rental owners group reports 2.48 percent vacancy rate More sales, but no change in residential housing median price People In Business People in Business, Dec. 3 Transportation Falling gas prices help spur travel at Medford airport Agriculture K-BAR ignites agriculture boom beneath Table Rocks Southern Oregon wine industry had a robust 2013 Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, Dec. 24 Granlund cartoon: Military and holidays Our View: One more try for Josephine safety levy Letters to the Editor, Dec. 23 Michael Gerson: Room for non-conformity nurtures genius Editorials Our View: One more try for Josephine safety levy Other Views: Kingsley Field jobs are welcome Our View: Be careful when you donate Other Views: Detective's sentence violates public trust Our View: Cheers and jeers Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Dec. 24 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 23 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 22 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 21 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 19 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon Guest Opinion: Forest thinning means water for the future Guest Opinion: Suit threatens family farms and democratic vote Guest Opinion: SOU pool decision short-sighted Guest Opinion: It's time for biologists to let OR-7 go dark Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: I Get It. Took a While. Kent Bush: Christmas is about Jesus Lost in Suburbia: Confession of a New Year’s Eve weenie Dear Monty: Can a rookie real estate agent be a good choice? Shayne Looper: Away — or rather, the way — in a manger Food Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Kitchen Call: The comfort of creamy soups Community blog: Baking contest finalists combine cookies, candies Community blog: 'Cookbook Book' digests genre's past 300 years Community blog: Liver pat� an easy nosh for Hanukkah and beyond Home and Garden Dear Monty: Can a rookie real estate agent be a good choice? Bathtub or shower: What’s best for you? Home Help: Home safety tips for a safe and happy winter season How NOT to install drywall Dear Monty: Siblings dispute inherited real estate Health Community blog: I Get It. Took a While. Health Watch: Small diet changes can make a big difference Community blog: Removing Barriers Is Good Insurance Health Watch: Change up your treadmill workout Community blog: A Dark Night of Healing and Hope Hiking Biking Faith Churches, synagogs host seasonal events Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Milestones and Achievements SinceYou Asked: SBA would work with Mt. Ashland Ski Area about loan Fans, friends and family welcome home victorious SOU team at airport Wedding: Boldt-Mahon Order of Elks national office revokes Medford lodge's charter Jackson County's new health building complete, will serve clients in February Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories SugarBeats headline an all-ages dance party at Historic Ashland Armory In the Pocket releases 'I Got News' Live Music in Local Clubs Celebrate winter solstice with the Bad Film Society Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present 'The Holly and the Ivy' Theater ACT presents reading of 'The Quality of Life' Meet the real Jacob Marley This Nutcracker ballet will have a superhero twist Plumbing the depths of meaning TMTO presents 'A Christmas Carol: The Musical' Music SugarBeats headline an all-ages dance party at Historic Ashland Armory In the Pocket releases 'I Got News' Live Music in Local Clubs Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present 'The Holly and the Ivy' Tomaseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas" returns to the Craterian Theater Community Events Celebrate winter solstice with the Bad Film Society Tomaseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas" returns to the Craterian Theater Stefan Baumann and Eugene Bennett highlight Third Fridays Dancing People Company celebrates the solstice Dance to the Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra Dining Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Coffee shops roll out holiday-inspired drinks Over Easy serves 'pop-up' brunch Sundays Ooblies Artisan Waffle Sandwiches Brunch at Loft Brasserie Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Police officer shoots armed driver near Reedsport ... Suspects in Highway 66 pursuit now facing drug charges ... State police disable pipe bomb on Table Rock Road ... Police officer shoots armed driver near Reedsport ... Suspects in Highway 66 pursuit now facing drug charges ... State police disable pipe bomb on Table Rock Road ... NBA Lillard delivers as Blazers top Thunder Guard's 3 forces overtime, helps him to 40 point Comment By Murray Evans The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Murray Evans The Associated Press Posted Dec. 24, 2014 @ 2:00 am By Murray Evans The Associated Press Posted Dec. 24, 2014 @ 2:00 am » Social News OKLAHOMA CITY — In a matchup of star Western Conference point guards, Portland's Damian Lillard made the big shots and Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook didn't. Lillard scored 40 points, making a tying 3-pointer with three seconds left in regulation, and the Trail Blazers rallied from a 13-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Thunder 115-111 on Tuesday night. Lillard's 40-point outing was his second in Portland's last four games, following a 43-point outburst against San Antonio on Friday. Lillard, who also had 11 assists and six rebounds, went 8 of 12 from 3-point range. He had seven points in the extra period. "Every time we get in a situation like that, I try to find a spot on the floor where I feel like I can get to for sure, and tonight was just another one of those times," Lillard said. Westbrook scored a season-high 40 points and added 10 rebounds and six assists, but missed a potential game-winner at the regulation buzzer before fouling out with 1:39 left in overtime. Oklahoma City played for a third straight game without NBA MVP Kevin Durant, who has a sprained right ankle. LaMarcus Aldridge overcame an upper respiratory illness to score 25 points and grab nine rebounds for the Blazers, although he shot 9 of 28 from field. He and Oklahoma City's Serge Ibaka, who scored 16 points, both were ejected with 9.5 seconds left in overtime after getting involved in a scuffle underneath Portland's basket. Reggie Jackson scored 21 points for the Thunder, including seven straight during a 67-second span to build a 78-73 lead with 10:58 left in regulation. A jumper by Westbrook extended that margin to 91-78 with 5:04 left and the Thunder led 95-85 with 1:40 left. But Oklahoma City faltered down the stretch. Lillard scored six straight points in a 34-second span — one on a free throw after Westbrook was whistled for a technical foul with 1:33 left. "That was my fault," Westbrook said. "I think that was the turning point in the game, for us and our energy. I didn't think I deserved it . but I've got to do a better job of controlling my emotions, especially when the game is on the line like that. I take the blame for that. It turned the whole game around for them and it gave them a chance to win the game." Westbrook went 1 of 2 from the line with 5.2 seconds left to give the Thunder a three-point cushion before Lillard's jumper over a charging Ibaka tied the game at 98. "I was just pointing to the watch," Lillard said of his celebration after the shot. "That's Lillard Time. That was the first time anybody's seen that. I was just feeling myself a little bit at the moment." Wesley Matthews scored 22 points and went 5 of 8 from 3-point range. Portland hit a season-high 17 3-pointers in 31 attempts. TIP-INS: Trail Blazers: After official Sean Corbin called a foul on Lillard that sent Westbrook to the free throw line, Portland coach Terry Stotts yelled at Corbin, saying he shouldn't reward Westbrook "just because he cries every time." Portland is 6-1 this season against Northwest Division foes and leads the division standings by 9½ games. The Blazers have won 11 of their last 14 road games. Thunder: Oklahoma City's Steven Adams and Portland's Joel Freeland each were issued a technical foul with 32.8 seconds left in the first half after jostling with each other following Westbrook's 3-pointer. INJURY UPDATES Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said Durant's ankle is improving every day, but wouldn't commit on a timetable for his return. Stotts said starting forward Nicolas Batum aggravated a sprained wrist during the Blazers' loss Monday at Houston. Batum sat out Tuesday but should be back quickly, possibly as soon as Friday. QUOTE OF THE NIGHT: Aldridge, on the altercation with Ibaka: "It was just a long night, I thought, of unnecessary stuff going on. This (pointing to scar on his face) is unnecessary. I've got scratches on my shoulder. That's unnecessary. The game was over with, and he was doing a little bit of extra stuff, and it wasn't needed." UP NEXT: Trail Blazers: Host Philadelphia on Friday. Thunder: Visit San Antonio on Thursday. By Murray Evans The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Murray Evans The Associated Press Posted Dec. 24, 2014 @ 2:00 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. fantasy football Early 2015 WR Fantasy Rankings Dec. 23, 2014 at 12:00 pm Fantasy Football Week 17 Cheat Sheet Dec. 23, 2014 at 12:00 pm Week 17 Top Fantasy Football Targets Dec. 23, 2014 at 11:00 am Deep Fantasy Sleeper-Keeper Options Dec. 23, 2014 at 10:30 am Week 17 Stat Predictions for Top 100 Players Dec. 23, 2014 at 10:00 am Fantasy Week 17 Flex and PPR Rankings Dec. 23, 2014 at 9:31 am calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501