Portland Trail Blazers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 20th 2024
Preview and Prediction
Following a frustrating beginning to the season, the Portland Trail Blazers have recently turned things around.
Currently on a three-game winning streak at home, the Blazers will now aim to prove their success on the road as well.
On Wednesday evening, Portland will embark on a crucial five-game road trip against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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"Undoubtedly, we are about to embark on a challenging road trip," remarked Blazers coach Chauncey Billups. "But regardless of the outcome, I simply want us to play with integrity and continue to improve."
The first four games of this trip will be against teams with winning records, including the Thunder, two matchups against the Houston Rockets, and a game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
"We are currently playing with a great deal of confidence," stated Portland forward Kris Murray. "Our team is working together and playing the right way. Our goal is to keep building on this momentum."
The Blazers currently hold a record of 2-4 on the road and 6-8 overall.
"We need to figure out how to perform better on the road," added forward Deni Avdija. "I believe we need to work on our chemistry and take better care of our bodies."
A significant factor in Portland's recent success has been their bench players.
During their three-game winning streak, over 43 percent of the Blazers' points have come from their reserves, with 58 of their 114 points in Sunday's victory over Atlanta coming from the bench.
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Dalano Banton had a season-high 23 points in that game.
Prior to this stretch, Portland had not won three consecutive games in over a year.
On the other hand, the Oklahoma City Thunder are coming off a 110-104 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night, marking their first back-to-back losses of the season.
This game kicks off a stretch in which the Thunder will play 11 of their next 14 games on the road, making it crucial for them to perform well at home.
Oklahoma City is still adapting to their limited size after 7-foot-1 Chet Holmgren suffered a broken pelvis, an injury that will keep him out for at least two months. Injuries have also sidelined Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams thus far.
One of the Thunder's other Williamses, Jalen, has stepped up in the absence of Holmgren, taking on the center role.
In the five games without Holmgren, Jalen Williams has averaged 25.4 points per game and has shot 54.8 percent from the field.
"The list of things that guy does and it doesn't matter what position you put him at all this is doing is highlighting those things and just showing that you can stress him about as far as you can possibly stress him," commented Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault on Williams' performance.
This game will be the second of four meetings between the two teams this season. The Thunder won the first matchup 137-114 on November 1st in Portland.
The Blazers are hopeful that guard Anfernee Simons will return for Wednesday's game after missing the past two games due to an undisclosed illness. Simons, who left Portland's November 12th win over the Minnesota Timberwolves due to shortness of breath, is listed as questionable.
Center Deandre Ayton is doubtful for the Thunder with a right finger sprain.
Oklahoma City may also be without guard Isaiah Joe for the second consecutive game due to a left calf contusion.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Recap NOV 20TH 2024
Jalen Williams scored 30 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 28 as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the visiting Portland Trail Blazers 109-99 on Wednesday night.
It was the Thunder's 14th consecutive win over the Blazers, dating back to January 2022.
Williams controlled the game during the decisive stretch late in the fourth, scoring eight points in a 10-1 run to put the Thunder ahead by 10 with 3:45 left.
Oklahoma City ended a two-game skid while snapping the Blazers' three-game winning streak.
Portland cut the Thunder lead to one with just more than five minutes remaining before Williams took over, hitting a pullup jumper.
Isaiah Hartenstein, making his season debut after missing the first 15 games with a broken hand, finished off the next possession with an alley-oop dunk, and Williams hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put Oklahoma City in control.
Williams added eight assists, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks. He hit five of Oklahoma City's nine 3-pointers.
Gilgeous-Alexander was just 7 of 19 from the floor but hit all 14 of his free throws.
Hartenstein played more than 28 minutes, finishing with 13 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks.
The game was tight throughout.
Portland jumped to a 23-13 lead late in the first quarter before the Thunder scored the final eight points of the quarter.
The Blazers went 0 for 5 with four turnovers in going scoreless for the final four minutes of the first.
But after that, neither team led by more than six until the Thunder's late run put the game away.
Shaedon Sharpe led the Blazers with 21 points, going 6 of 16 from the floor.
Portland's bench play had fueled its winning streak but the Thunder's bench outscored the Blazers' 44-31.
The Blazers were once again without Deandre Ayton and Anfernee Simons. Ayton missed his fourth consecutive game with a right finger sprain while Simons missed his third consecutive game with an undisclosed illness.
About midway through the third quarter, Portland point guard Scoot Henderson suffered a quad contusion and did not return.