Portland, OR – The Trail Blazers ended a two‑game slide on Tuesday night, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 123‑103 in front of a lively crowd at the Moda Center. Guard Damian Lillard paced the home team with 25 points, including a flurry of three‑pointers that stretched the lead in the third quarter.
Key performances
Lillard opened the scoring surge with back‑to‑back three‑point shots that pushed Portland’s advantage to 79‑71. He later knocked down a deep three from the logo, giving the Blazers a 97‑80 edge heading into the fourth period. Veteran Jrue Holiday added 11 points off the bench, while newcomer Sidy Cissoko, starting in place of Scoot Henderson, contributed 17 points.
For Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander tallied 26 points on 8‑of‑22 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds, but he missed all four of his three‑point attempts and sat out the final quarter. The Thunder’s scoring was bolstered by Jared McCain, who finished with 21 points, and a late‑game three‑pointer from Nique Clifford, a recent acquisition from Sacramento.
Injuries and roster notes
The Thunder entered the game shorthanded, missing several key players due to injuries: Jalen Williams (ankle), Chet Holmgren (knee) and Cason Wallace (shoulder). Jaylin Williams also sat out with back spasms. Portland’s lineup saw Sidy Cissoko start in place of Scoot Henderson, who contributed 11 points off the bench.
Game flow
The first quarter was tightly contested, with the Thunder holding a 27‑26 edge early. The teams exchanged leads throughout the first half, which ended tied at 59‑59. A pivotal moment came when Jared McCain’s three‑pointer gave Oklahoma City a brief 69‑67 lead, only for Lillard to answer with his own three‑point shot.
Portland’s offense surged in the third quarter, highlighted by Lillard’s three‑point barrage and Holiday’s timely bucket, extending the margin to 106‑89. The Blazers maintained control in the fourth, sealing the victory with a comfortable 20‑point lead.
Looking ahead
The Trail Blazers will host the Thunder again on Wednesday, hoping to build on the momentum from Tuesday’s win. Oklahoma City will look to rebound from the loss as they continue their road stretch.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
