Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put up points, but the Oklahoma City Thunder still walked out of Portland with a second straight loss and a bit of unwanted NBA history attached to it.
The Thunder fell to the Trail Blazers 118-108 on Wednesday at Moda Center, coming up short one night after dropping Tuesday’s game there 123-103. Oklahoma City actually grabbed the lead in the fourth quarter, but Portland answered in a hurry and never let the game slip away again.
Damian Lillard and Deni Avdija powered the Blazers’ closing push, combining for 20 points in the final period. That stretch flipped the game back in Portland’s favor and buried Oklahoma City’s late lead.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a game-high 31 points and four rebounds, but the shooting line was rough: 9-of-20 from the floor and 0-of-7 from beyond the arc. On Tuesday, he had 26 points, eight rebounds and three assists, though he was again inefficient, going 8-of-22 overall and 0-of-4 from long range.
The numbers from the two losses led to a strange historical note from OptaSTATS: “This is the first time in NBA regular-season history that the reigning MVP lost by double digits to the same team on back-to-back days,” noted OptaSTATS.
Oklahoma City has been leaning heavily on Gilgeous-Alexander with Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace all sidelined for multiple weeks. The Thunder had been riding a four-game winning streak before Portland stopped them cold.
The Blazers’ late surge included a big answer after Jared McCain trimmed the margin to five at 110-105 with a three-pointer and 1:19 left. Lillard responded on the next possession by knocking down a pair of free throws to put the game away.
The Thunder will look to regroup on Friday against the Los Angeles Clippers.
In Other News...
Jared McCains Surge Suddenly Matters More For OKC Than Ever
With Ajay Mitchell ruled out for the upcoming game against Portland because of an ankle sprain, the Thunder suddenly have a little more room for someone else to shoulder the scoring load. Jared McCain has been trending up at the right time, and his recent efficiency has given Oklahoma City another perimeter option to lean on as it prepares for the rematch.
McCain already showed what that can look like against the Trail Blazers, when he put up 21 points in the previous meeting. If that kind of production carries over again, the Thunder could be asking him to do more than just fill minutes. The bigger question is whether this surge is the start of a larger offensive role or just a timely burst when Oklahoma City needs it most. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Get Immediate Shot To Answer Portland Without Key Pieces
The Thunder get an immediate chance to reset the tone Wednesday night in Portland, where theyll face the Trail Blazers again at the Moda Center just one day after the teams opened this back-to-back. Oklahoma City is still in the early part of the season, but these quick rematches can say plenty about how a team handles a loss, especially on the road and on short rest.
This one also comes with some lineup uncertainty for Oklahoma City, which adds another layer to a game that already has the feel of a response opportunity. The broadcast details, betting line and projected starters are all in place, but the bigger question is whether the Thunder can bring a cleaner, sharper version of themselves into the second meeting and leave Portland with a different result. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Could Need Nique Clifford Much Sooner Than Expected
Nique Cliffords first look in a Thunder uniform came with the usual rookie hurdles, but there was enough there to leave a positive impression on Mark Daigneault. Even while still getting his arms around the playbook and learning the feel of his new teammates, Clifford showed enough in his debut to suggest Oklahoma City may be able to lean on him sooner than expected if the need arises.
The need may already be forming as the Thunder work through a crowded injury situation, with Ajay Mitchells ankle issue only adding to the pressure on the rotation. If Clifford is asked to take on a bigger role, the timing could matter even more with Jared McCain trending upward offensively and potentially becoming a key piece in the upcoming meetings with the Portland Trail Blazers. [Read more 🡒]