The Oklahoma City Thunder will be facing off against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday in their second game of the season series. The Thunder, currently boasting an impressive record of 16-1, are on an eight-game winning streak following a dramatic comeback against the Utah Jazz, where they triumphed 144-112 despite initially trailing by 18 points. Star player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with an impressive performance, scoring 31 points and dishing out eight assists in just three quarters.
The Trail Blazers, however, are navigating through a challenging phase in their season with a record of 7-9. They managed to snap their losing streak with a tightly contested 127-123 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday evening, thanks in part to Deni Avdija’s standout performance of 26 points and 13 assists, along with a surprising contribution of 26 points from Caleb Love coming off the bench.
Heading into this matchup, the Thunder appear focused and determined to avenge their only loss of the season, which occurred on November 5 against the Blazers. Early indications suggest that Portland’s struggles are being magnified by the absence of a reliable point guard, which has already exposed weaknesses in their lineup.
As the game unfolds, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has begun strongly, already contributing 17 points in the first segment, while teammates are effectively leveraging screens to create scoring opportunities. The Thunder will start with a lineup featuring Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, Lu Dort, Chet Holmgren, and Isaiah Hartenstein. In contrast, the Trail Blazers are set to feature Sidy Cissoko, Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, Jerami Grant, and Donovan Clingan.
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For fans eager to watch the game, it will be broadcasted live on the FanDuel Sports Network and is set to tip-off at 6 p.m. CT. Streaming is available through Fubo, which offers a free trial.
On the injury front, the Thunder will be missing several key players, including Jalen Williams, Aaron Wiggins, Kenrich Williams, Nikola Topic, Thomas Sorber, all of whom are dealing with various injuries. On the Trail Blazers’ side, notable absences include Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, and Matisse Thybulle, while Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III are listed as questionable.
The Thunder are also planning a busy upcoming schedule, with fixtures against the Timberwolves and Suns lined up later this month, further emphasizing the crucial nature of each game as they seek to maintain their remarkable start to the season.
