Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder rolls past Blazers to improve to 5-0

On November 2, 2024By Littum

On the third theft, the Moda Center should have signaled the Undertaker’s bell.

Lu Dort, a rugged defender who placed his bid as the most prominent presence in the the Thunder’s 137-114 cage match with a win against the Trail Blazers Friday night in Portland, put so much fear into Portland’s ball handlers and wings — even its big men.

Ask DeAndre Ayton.

Midway through the third quarter, with the Blazers’ momentum slipping away, Dort left his feet when Ayton pulled up with what appeared to be an easy inside basket. Dort jumped on and hung onto the ball, almost doing a chin-up with Ayton’s reach. It ended in a bouncy ball, a harrowing scene that punctuated a captivating sequence from Dort.

“Lu Dort kind of thing,” Aaron Wiggins said.

With center Chet Holmgren in foul trouble and the Blazers within reach after a 44-point second quarter, coach Mark Daigneault opted for a small lineup. With 5:52 left in the third, the Thunder led by just two points. Then Dort reminded OKC who it has been.

Heavy swipes, streaks of players of all sizes, gobbling up possessions before they even really started. Friday’s match was physical, a product that Vince Macmahon would once drool over, and Dort was the enabler.

Portland finished the first half with just four turnovers — an anomaly with this Thunder team — and a confidence that only a 12-pack of beer could give. It ended the third quarter with 12 turnovers in the period.

By then, the Thunder had blown away a 21-point lead.

Dort took the life out of a building that had been teeming with it just minutes before the guard’s choke job.

Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams with signature performances

For four games, the Thunder offense had been waiting to take shape. Being molded by the masterful hands that made it a top device a year ago. Or at least not to be overshadowed by its defence, perhaps inevitably with such formidable defenders.

More than anything, OKC could have used its All-Star caliber scorers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with his consistent output, slick drives and a dribble cadence that only he can move to. Jalen Williams with his cartoonish wingspan and hard shooting ability.

With each attempt to expand their game, neither has exactly been a model of consistency throughout OKC’s start. Not by Gilgeous-Alexander’s standards, anyway. But Friday gave them room to find their way back.

SGA finished with 30 points (12 for 18) and added seven rebounds and six assists.

He made just 1 of his 6 3-point attempts, but after leading off with a pair of signature drives to start the game, Gilgeous-Alexander balanced the best parts of his arsenal as he continued to test his new volume.

Williams’ volume, even in its rise, hasn’t necessarily been out of place. And on Friday, the basketball gods rewarded him.

The third-year forward drilled 4 of his 6 3s, several off the dribble. He poured in 22 points on 8-for-12 shooting, an effective glimpse into what Williams can be on most nights, especially awful with Holmgren’s foul trouble.

If it’s up to the Thunder, it won’t be left in the hyped 3-point rotation.

It’s not just giving Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams neon lights from deep. On Friday, the Thunder hit — and made — a season-high 3s.

OKC made 19 of its 49 3-point attempts (38.8%) Friday, which was a season-high in attempts. Second-most 3s the Thunder shot in any game last season? 49.

On Friday, Torden got a bit of it from everyone. Isaiah Joe, the most highly regarded shooter on the payroll, went 3 for 8. Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins each went 3 for 5 from deep.

Even freshman Ajay Mitchell got into the program and shot 2 for 3 out there. Nine OKC players made a 3.

The second-highest total by the Thunder through these first five games is 41. But perhaps Friday eclipsing so much of its single-game volume from a season ago will foreshadow things to come this season.

What time is Thunder vs. Trail Blazers

Date: Friday 1 Nov
Time: 9 p.m. CT
Where: Moda Center in Portland

TV: FanDuel Sports Network
How to watch online: Fubo (Free Trial)
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM

Thunder vs. Trail Blazers odds

Odds lent by via BetMGM from and including Friday 1 Nov

Odds: Thunder before 11.5

Above/below: 221.5

Money line: OKC -650 | Portland +450

OKC Thunder roster

Alex Caruso, PG
Ousmane Dieng, SF
Luguentz Dort, SG
Alex Ducas, SG *
Adam Flagler, PG
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, SG
Isaiah Hartenstein, C
Chet Holmgren, PF
Isaiah Joe, SG
Dillon Jones, SF
Ajay Mitchell, SG *
Alex Reese, PF
Nikola Topić, PG
Cason Wallace, SG
Aaron Wiggins, SG
Jalen Williams, SG
Jaylin Williams, PF
Kenrich Williams, PF

*-two-way contract

OKC Thunder schedule

October 24: Thunder 102, Nuggets 87

October 26: Thunder 114, Bulls 95

October 27: Thunder 128, Hawks 106

October 30: Thunder 105, Spurs 93

Nov. 1: in Portland at 21.00

November 2: at LA Clippers at 9.30 p.m

November 4: Orlando, 8:15 p.m

November 6: in Denver at 8 p.m

Thunder vs Trail Blazers highlights

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