Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander starred for Oklahoma City, scoring 35 points to lead the Thunder to a 118-108 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday (Monday Manila time), extending their league-best record to 37-8.
The Thunder, coming off a surprising loss to the undermanned Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, rebounded with a solid performance, fending off a late Portland push to snap the Blazers’ momentum.
Oklahoma City had led by as much as 19 points, but Portland made things tense in the final frame.
Jalen Williams added 24 points, while Isaiah Joe chipped in 16 off the bench. Center Isaiah Hartenstein made a significant impact in his return from a five-game absence, contributing 14 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and a crucial block.
Despite leading by 15 heading into the fourth, Oklahoma City had to withstand a surge from the Blazers. Anfernee Simons’ 3-pointer cut the deficit to six with 2:37 left.
The Thunder, however, responded decisively. With the lead at 112-106, Hartenstein slammed home a dunk after a pass from Gilgeous-Alexander, then the star guard followed with a driving layup to restore a double-digit advantage.
“Just executing, focusing on the details,” Hartenstein said, reflecting on the Thunder’s ability to fend off Portland’s late rally.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who entered the game averaging 32 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.3 rebounds, added five rebounds, one assist, and three of Oklahoma City’s seven steals.
The Thunder dominated inside, outscoring Portland 52-22 in the paint and owning a 28-13 advantage in second-chance points.
For the Blazers, Deni Avdija led the charge with 28 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, while Scoot Henderson added 25 points off the bench and Toumani Camara contributed 24 points.
However, Portland’s struggles against Oklahoma City continued, as the Blazers have now lost 15 consecutive games to the Thunder.
Portland started strong, jumping out to a quick 10-point lead, but Oklahoma City responded with a 17-7 run to close the first quarter, tying the game at 27. The Thunder took control in the second period, building a 66-53 lead by halftime.
