NBA: Jalen Williams’ late burst lifts Thunder over Blazers

Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, left, celebrates with forward Jalen Williams, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers , Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips)

Jalen Williams scored 30 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 28 as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the visiting Portland Trail Blazers 109-99 in the NBA on Wednesday night.

It was the Thunder’s 14th consecutive win over the Blazers, dating back to January 2022.

Williams controlled the game during the decisive stretch late in the fourth, scoring eight points in a 10-1 run to put the Thunder ahead by 10 with 3:45 left.

Oklahoma City ended a two-game skid while snapping the Blazers’ three-game winning streak.

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Portland cut the Thunder lead to one with just more than five minutes remaining before Williams took over, hitting a pullup jumper.

Isaiah Hartenstein, making his season debut after missing the first 15 games with a broken hand, finished off the next possession with an alley-oop dunk, and Williams hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put Oklahoma City in control.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) drives around Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Williams added eight assists, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks. He hit five of Oklahoma City’s nine 3-pointers.

Gilgeous-Alexander was just 7 of 19 from the floor but hit all 14 of his free throws.

Hartenstein played more than 28 minutes, finishing with 13 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks.

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The game was tight throughout.

Portland jumped to a 23-13 lead late in the first quarter before the Thunder scored the final eight points of the quarter.

The Blazers went 0 for 5 with four turnovers in going scoreless for the final four minutes of the first.

But after that, neither team led by more than six until the Thunder’s late run put the game away.

Shaedon Sharpe led the Blazers with 21 points, going 6 of 16 from the floor.

Portland’s bench play had fueled its winning streak but the Thunder’s bench outscored the Blazers’ 44-31.

The Blazers were once again without Deandre Ayton and Anfernee Simons. Ayton missed his fourth consecutive game with a right finger sprain while Simons missed his third consecutive game with an undisclosed illness.

About midway through the third quarter, Portland point guard Scoot Henderson suffered a quad contusion and did not return. –Field Level Media