The Thunder’s latest two nights against Portland left them with something they hadn’t dealt with all season: back-to-back losses. Oklahoma City fell to the Trail Blazers by 20 and then 10 points on consecutive nights, and Wednesday’s 118-108 defeat pushed the team to 8-4 while knocking it out of the top four in the Western Conference standings for the first time this year.
That skid came after a run of 12 games that already tested OKC against plenty of tough competition. Seven of those opponents were sitting several games above .500, which helps explain why the Thunder have had to grind through the early part of the schedule.
Now comes a much friendlier stretch.
Even with the injury situation still leaving Oklahoma City short-handed, the next week and change offers a clear chance to steady things. The Thunder open Friday night against the 2-8 LA Clippers, then turn around for a Sunday matchup with the one-win Sacramento Kings.
After that, they’ll face the 7-5 Atlanta Hawks at Paycom Center, giving OKC home-court advantage in what is the toughest game of the upcoming run. The next three opponents after that are the Pelicans, Heat, and Pacers.
Five of the Thunder’s next six games will come against teams with losing records, and several of those clubs are below .350 in win percentage. Compared with what Oklahoma City has just been dealing with, that’s a major shift in the right direction.
The recent two-game slide is only the sixth time since the start of last season that OKC has lost consecutive games. And the Thunder haven’t dropped three straight since the 2023-24 season. With the schedule easing up, they’ll have every chance to keep that from happening now.
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 🡒]