Portland, Ore. – The Trail Blazers delivered a decisive 118‑108 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night, completing a two‑game sweep that highlighted the team’s depth and resilience.
Deni Avdija led the scoring effort for Portland with 28 points, while veteran guard Damian Lillard added 18 points, including a clutch three‑pointer in the fourth quarter that helped seal the victory. The Blazers’ bench also contributed, with Jrue Holiday providing 19 points off the bench and center Donovan Clingan pulling down 12 rebounds and blocking three shots.
Oklahoma City’s star, Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander, topped the game’s scoring chart with 31 points, 23 of which came after halftime, but the Thunder were unable to maintain their early lead. Isaiah Hartenstein added a double‑double with 20 points and 11 rebounds, yet the team faltered in the final period.
The game remained tightly contested through three quarters, with the Thunder briefly regaining a lead early in the fourth after a timely three‑pointer from Nique Clifford tied the score at 88 with 11:11 remaining. A loose‑ball layup by Kenrich Williams gave Oklahoma City a fleeting advantage, but Portland responded swiftly.
Avdija and Lillard combined for 20 of the Blazers’ 30 points in the decisive stretch. Lillard’s three‑pointer with 6:17 left trimmed the deficit to 94‑93, and a pair of free throws by Avdija with 5:24 left gave Portland a one‑point edge. A floater by Lillard later extended the lead to eight, and his subsequent driving layup pushed the margin to ten.
Despite a late three‑pointer from Jared McCain that narrowed the gap to five points, Lillard’s free throws in the final minute secured a comfortable 112‑105 lead, which the Blazers held until the final buzzer.
Portland’s first‑half surge, highlighted by a 15‑4 run that turned a nine‑point deficit into a lead, set the tone for the night. A technical foul on Thunder coach Mark Daigneault early in the game contributed to a 51‑45 advantage for the Blazers, and Holiday’s three‑pointer with 1:13 left in the half extended the lead to 54‑45.
Looking ahead, the Thunder will travel to Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Friday night, while the Trail Blazers head to Sacramento for their next matchup.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
