Oklahoma City Thunder Bounce Back with Win Over Portland Trail Blazers

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 118-108, bouncing back from a surprise loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

The Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back from a surprising loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, securing a hard-fought 118-108 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday. This win marked a return to winning ways for the Thunder, who improved their impressive record to 37-8, the best in the NBA.

Sunday dub ✔️ pic.twitter.com/eN7FBgoN2v

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 27, 2025

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was instrumental in the Thunder's victory, pouring in 35 points to lead his team to success. He received valuable support from Jalen Williams, who added 24 points, and Isaiah Joe, who contributed 16 points off the bench. The Thunder's depth was further highlighted by the performance of centre Isaiah Hartenstein, who returned from a five-game absence due to a calf injury to record 14 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and a crucial block.

The Thunder's win was not without its challenges, as they faced a late surge from the Trail Blazers. Portland, trailing by 15 points heading into the fourth quarter, managed to reduce the deficit to six points on Anfernee Simons' three-pointer with 2:37 left to play. However, the Thunder held their nerve and fended off the Trail Blazers' comeback attempt to secure the win and snap Portland's four-game winning streak.

Slam it home, @Ipjh55 💥 pic.twitter.com/cfGKV4DVEx

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 27, 2025

With the Oklahoma City Thunder leading 112-106 and 1:49 remaining, Isaiah Hartenstein delivered a crucial dunk, fed by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Gilgeous-Alexander then followed with a driving layup, pushing the Thunder's lead back to double digits. Hartenstein attributed the key to turning back the Trail Blazers to “just executing” and “focusing on the details.”

Gilgeous-Alexander had a standout performance, scoring 35 points to go along with five rebounds, one assist, and three of the Thunder's seven steals. He came into the contest averaging 32 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.3 rebounds. The Thunder's dominance in the paint was a significant factor in their win, out-scoring the Blazers 52-22. They also held a 28-13 advantage in second-chance points.

The Trail Blazers were led by Deni Avdija, who recorded 28 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. Scoot Henderson added 25 points off the bench, and Toumani Camara contributed 24 points. However, the Blazers' efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, as they suffered their 15th consecutive loss to the Thunder. The Blazers had started strongly, jumping to a 10-point lead, but the Thunder fought back to tie the game at 27-27 by the end of the first quarter.

The Thunder continued to build on their momentum, pushing their lead to as many as 19 points on their way to a 66-53 halftime advantage. This strong performance set the tone for the remainder of the game, as the Thunder held off the Trail Blazers' late surge to secure the 118-108 victory.