Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points while leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 124-95 home win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.
The Thunder won three consecutive games to close their four-game homestand. The Blazers’ two-game winning streak was snapped.
It didn’t take long for Oklahoma City to grab control, with a 16-4 run midway through the first quarter breaking what had been a tie.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s fingerprints were all over that stretch, with four points, two assists, a steal and a rebound. Portland never again was within fewer than six points.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished 11 of 15 from the field with six assists, four steals and no turnovers. He sat out the fourth quarter.
Oklahoma City is an NBA-best 17-1 at home and took the season series between the teams 3-1, winning three consecutive matchups with the Blazers after dropping the first.
It was just the fourth time this season Portland scored fewer than 100 points, and two of those came against the Thunder.
By halftime, the Thunder led by 18 with Gilgeous-Alexander putting up 18 points.
Oklahoma City pulled off the victory much as it had plenty so far this season, with a smothering defense that helped the Thunder outscore the Blazers 28-17 off turnovers, 52-34 in the paint, 25-12 on the fastbreak and 52-33 off the bench.
Ajay Mitchell scored 17 off the Oklahoma City bench, Isaiah Joe added 15 on five 3-pointers, and Chet Holmgren had 12 points, 10 rebounds and a season-high six blocks. Jalen Williams amassed 13 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals.
The Thunder had 15 steals and shot 48.9% from the field.
Sidy Cissoko led Portland with 19 points a career-high five 3-pointers while Deni Avdija added 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
The Blazers hit just 39.1% from the field, shooting better from beyond the arc (14 of 35, 40%) than they did inside of it.
–Field Level Media
