The Oklahoma City Thunder delivered a commanding performance against the Portland Trail Blazers, securing a decisive 122-95 victory on Sunday night that extended their winning streak to nine consecutive games.
Thunder's Dominant Performance
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with an impressive 37 points scored in just three quarters of play. The star player shot an efficient 13 of 18 from the field and maintained perfect accuracy from the free-throw line, making all nine of his attempts.
Adding to the offensive firepower, Ajay Mitchell contributed 20 points with flawless 8-for-8 shooting. The defending champions demonstrated their depth and skill, improving their season record to an NBA-best 17-1. This victory was particularly sweet as it avenged their only loss of the season, which occurred on November 5 when Portland edged them 121-119.
Overcoming Adversity
What makes the Thunder's success more remarkable is their ability to maintain dominance despite significant injuries. The team continues to play without 2025 All-Star Jalen Williams, who is recovering from wrist surgery, and reserve Aaron Wiggins, sidelined by a thigh strain.
Even with these absences, Oklahoma City has been virtually unstoppable, winning their last nine games by an average margin of 22.3 points. Their closest contest during this impressive streak was decided by just 13 points.
For Portland, Jerami Grant led the scoring with 21 points, while Deni Avdija, who had scored 26 points in the first meeting between these teams, managed only 11 points on 4-for-16 shooting.
Game Highlights and Key Moments
The Thunder established control early, with Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 17 points in the opening quarter to help build a substantial 39-18 lead. The second quarter saw some drama when Mitchell drove to the basket and took a hit to the head from Portland's Rayan Rupert, sparking a brief confrontation that resulted in a technical foul on Isaiah Hartenstein.
Mitchell capitalized on the situation by making one free throw and then hitting a floater to extend the lead to 49-25. Gilgeous-Alexander closed the first half with a layup that gave Oklahoma City a comfortable 67-46 advantage, effectively putting the game out of reach for the Trail Blazers.
Around the NBA
In other NBA action, the Toronto Raptors continued their strong form with a 119-109 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, marking their 11th win in 12 games. Scottie Barnes scored 17 points while Ja'Kobe Walter added a season-high 16 points for the Raptors, who extended their winning run to seven games.
The Los Angeles Lakers edged the Utah Jazz 108-106 in a closely contested match. Luka Doncic posted 33 points and 11 rebounds, while LeBron James scored 17 points in his first road game of the season after returning from a sciatica-related layoff.
Other results saw the Atlanta Hawks defeat the Charlotte Hornets 113-110, the Miami Heat beat the Philadelphia 76ers 127-117, the Cleveland Cavaliers overcome the Los Angeles Clippers 120-105, the Boston Celtics outlast the Orlando Magic 138-129, and the Phoenix Suns down the San Antonio Spurs 111-102.
The Thunder's exceptional performance solidifies their position as the team to beat this season, having compiled an impressive 85-15 record since the start of the previous season.
