Field Level Media
Nov 19, 2023
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points on 10-of-13 shooting in just 23 minutes on the floor as the Oklahoma City Thunder dismantled the host Portland Trail Blazers 134-91 on Sunday night for their fifth consecutive victory.
Chet Holmgren scored 16 points on 6-of-6 shooting as the Thunder beat Portland for the ninth consecutive time. Isaiah Joe added 15 points on five 3-pointers for Oklahoma City, which led by as many as 47 points.
Jerami Grant scored 14 points and Jabari Walker added 13 for Portland, which lost its seventh straight game. Skylar Mays had 11 points and seven assists and Deandre Ayton added 11 points for the Trail Blazers, whose only lead was at 2-0.
Oklahoma City was hotter than lava in the first half, shooting 71.8 percent from the field and making 11 of 15 (73.3 percent) shots from 3-point range while building a 76-43 lead.
The contest was one-sided despite the Thunder playing the second end of a road back-to-back and their third away game in four nights, while Portland had Saturday night off before the finale of a three-game homestand.
Jalen Williams (hip) sat out for Oklahoma City, which finished 22 of 36 (61.1 percent) from 3-point range while shooting 60.5 percent overall. Aaron Wiggins had 13 points and Luguentz Dort and Lindy Waters III (four treys) scored 12 apiece.
Portland made 40 percent of its shots from the field and hit just 9 of 34 from 3-point range while failing to reach 100 points for the seventh time in 13 games. Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring) missed his fifth straight game.
The second half was just a formality after Gilgeous-Alexander had 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting in the first half and Holmgren produced all 16 of his points. Joe was 4 of 4 from 3-point range for 12 points.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 13 points in the first quarter as the Thunder took a 33-21 lead. Holmgren scored 13 points in the second quarter as Oklahoma City outscored Portland 43-22.
The Trail Blazers began the third quarter with a 10-2 run before the Thunder resumed control. Oklahoma City scored 12 straight points later in the period to increase the lead to 98-61 with 3:53 left.
The Thunder led 101-66 entering the final stanza and later led 134-88 after a 3-pointer by Aleksej Pokusevski with 1:02 left while improving to 6-1 on the road.
--Field Level Media