PORTLAND, OR – On a stormy day in Portland, the Trail Blazers rained on the Thunder’s parade.
Portland erased a 22-point deficit to hand OKC a 121-119 loss on Wednesday. The Thunder is now 8-1, snapping its streak for the best start to a season in franchise history.
Here are three takeaways from the loss:
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Thunder’s punished those who penetrated the paint
Jaylin Williams was still sporting a bandage above his swollen left eye, covering three stitches he’d received after taking an elbow to the face against the Los Angeles Clippers the night before.
And yet he had no issue staring Donovan Clingan down in the final minute of the first quarter. When the Trail Blazers’ 7-foot-2 center elevated for a chip shot, the Thunder’s chippy 6-9 forward elevated even higher for an emphatic block.
Williams flexed his muscles as the ball bounced out of bounds. He then mean-mugged the crowd, which was extra menacing with his bandaged and bruised face.
Williams wasn’t OKC’s only punishing paint protector. The Thunder allowed a league-low average of 39 points in the paint entering Wednesday, and it continued to dominate in that department. It dogpiled drivers, swiped at the basketball and even rejected the occasional shot.
OKC held Portland to 32 points in the paint as a result. The Trail Blazers only shot 17 for 45 from inside the arc (37.8%).
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shakes of slow start
When you need to get hot, get to your spot.
That’s exactly what Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did after failing to make a shot during the first quarter. The reigning scoring champ found a rhythm in the second by finding his way to the baseline, where he has decimated countless defenders throughout his career.
The latest victim proved to be Toumani Camara, an All-Defensive second team forward with limbs as long as the trees in Portland’s Forest Park. But even he couldn’t deflect Gilgeous-Alexander’s turnaround jumper, which dropped through the rim.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 12 points in the second quarter and ultimately finished the night with 35 points. He also added nine rebounds and four assists.
Gilgeous-Alexander has now scored at least 20 points in 81 consecutive regular-season games. He only trails Wilt Chamberlain, who had two streaks of 126 games and 92 games, on the all-time list.
Jrue Holiday, Trail Blazers torched the Thunder from deep
Jrue Holiday held his right hand in the air to prove his shooting form was pure, but it’s not like he needed to.
The results spoke for themselves.
On a night when the paint was barricaded by Thunder bodies, Holiday found another way to score. He racked up 22 points on 6-for-10 shooting from deep (60%), and his biggest triple came with 2:48 left in the game.
Holiday hit Gilgeous-Alexander with a stepback and launched a 3-pointer over the reigning MVP. It was found the bottom of the net, giving Portland a 112-104 lead.
The rest of the Trail Blazers’ shooters also showed up. Portland went a blistering 19 for 43 from deep (44.2%) to hand OKC its first loss of the season.
Tip-ins
- Portland’s Toumani Camara and OKC’s Ajay Mitchell both got the starting nod Wednesday. They’re the only two Belgian players in the NBA.
- OKC was without Alex Caruso (rest), Lu Dort (right upper trap strain) and Chet Holmgren (lower back sprain), who all played against the Los Angeles Clippers the night before.
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
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