The Oklahoma City Thunder are set to face off against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, marking their third meeting of the season. The teams have split their first two encounters, with the Thunder prevailing in their latest match on November 23.
Currently, the Thunder boast an impressive record of 19-1, riding a streak of 11 consecutive wins. Their latest victory came on Friday when they edged past the Phoenix Suns with a score of 123-119, highlighted by a stellar performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who poured in 37 points and added eight assists to help the team secure a significant 2025 NBA Cup win. The return of Jalen Williams also played a pivotal role in their success.
On the other hand, the Trail Blazers have been struggling with a record of 8-11 and suffered a 115-102 defeat at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. Deni Avdija shone for Portland, scoring an impressive 37 points, but unfortunately, his efforts weren’t enough to prevent the team’s decline.
Both teams are facing key injuries that will affect their lineups. For the Thunder, Isaiah Hartenstein (soleus strain), Nikola Topic (testicular surgery), and Thomas Sorber (torn ACL) are all ruled out for the matchup. Branden Carlson (nasal fracture) will be available to play. The Trail Blazers will also be missing several players, including Jrue Holiday (calf strain), Scoot Henderson (torn hamstring), Matisse Thybulle (torn thumb ligament), Blake Wesley (foot fracture), and Damian Lillard (torn Achilles), while Donovan Clingan (illness) is listed as questionable.
The game is scheduled to tip off in Portland at 5 p.m. CT, promising an exciting encounter as both teams look to turn their fortunes around. Despite the challenges, the Thunder continue to demonstrate resilience, while the Trail Blazers will aim to regroup and find their rhythm.