NBA: Thunder pull away from Blazers to remain unbeaten

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, drives to the hoop against Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 30 points, seven rebounds and six assists as the unbeaten Oklahoma City delivered a 137-114 victory over the host Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA on Friday night.

Jalen Williams added 22 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals as Oklahoma City won its fifth straight game to open the season. Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace scored 13 points apiece off the bench, Isaiah Joe added 12 and Ousmane Dieng had 11 for the Thunder.

Oklahoma City has won 13 consecutive games against the Trail Blazers. One of last season’s victories was by a 139-77 score, with the 62-point margin tying for fifth-largest in NBA history.

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Jerami Grant had 17 points and Deandre Ayton and Rayan Rupert added 14 apiece for Portland. Toumani Camara had 13 points and Deni Avdija and Dalano Banton had 11 apiece for the Trail Blazers, who have started the season with four losses in six games.

Oklahoma City shot 53.7 percent from the field, including 19 of 49 (38.8 percent) from 3-point range. Gilgeous-Alexander made 12 of 18 shots and Williams hit 8 of 12, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range.

Chet Holmgren blocked five shots for the Thunder.

The Trail Blazers shot 47 percent from the field and made 15 of 35 (42.9 percent) from behind the arc.

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The Thunder dominated the third quarter, outscoring Portland 38-17 to turn a tie game at halftime into a 21-point lead for the visitors.

Alex Caruso’s basket capped a 9-0 spurt as Oklahoma City led 89-78 with 3:56 remaining in the quarter.

Later, Wallace knocked down a 3-pointer and Gilgeous-Alexander followed with four straight points to end a 23-5 surge as the Thunder held a 103-83 lead with 24.1 seconds to go.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams (8) drives to the basket against Portland Trailblazers center Deandre Ayton (2) and forward Deni Avdija (8) during the first quarter of an NBA game at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Murphy-Imagn Images

A buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Dieng gave Oklahoma City a 106-85 edge entering the final stanza.

The Thunder scored nine of the first 11 points of the fourth quarter with Ajay Mitchell’s trey making it 115-87 with 9:17 left in the game and Oklahoma City cruised to the finish.

The Thunder led by as many as 17 in the first quarter before the score was knotted at 68 at the break.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 18 in the half and Williams added 17 for the Thunder. Grant had 14 first-half points for Portland.

The Thunder led 35-18 after a trey by Gilgeous-Alexander with 1:16 left in the first quarter. The score was 37-24 entering the second.

Oklahoma City led by 15 four minutes into the quarter before Portland began trimming the deficit.

Later, a 13-2 burst was capped by Ayton’s basket for a 66-65 Trail Blazers’ lead with 37.1 seconds left in the half. It ended up tied when Williams drained a 32-foot 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds remaining. –Field Level Media