Three Takeaways From the OKC Thunder’s Hard-Fought Win in Portland
The Oklahoma City Thunder needed a win, and it took all they had to get a win in Portland.
The Thunder beat the Trail Blazers 128-120 to sweep the season series and get an important road win. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 37 points, but Jalen Williams was close behind with 31, and both made big shots to help close the game.
After the Trail Blazers cut the lead to two in the fourth quarter, the Thunder scored five quick points to extend the lead. The Thunder and Trail Blazers traded scores before the Thunder made some plays in the final minutes to seal the win.
Before that, a 9-1 run to end the third helped Oklahoma City take a double-digit lead into the fourth quarter after Portland had gotten back into the game.
Let’s dive into three lessons that can be learned from yesterday’s game.
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Josh Giddey needs to play to his strengths
The Thunder’s starting guard has had his fair share of struggles this season, but he played his role perfectly in Portland. He finished with 19 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
Opposing defenses have left him open, leading to Giddey forcing open shots. Against the Trail Blazers, he shot 8-of-9 from the floor, with his only miss coming on a 3-point shot at the end of the shot clock.
Most importantly, he played within the flow of the game as a passer and had his first six-assist game in more than a month. If Giddey can build on his past couple of performances, the Thunder could get the player they were expecting heading into the playoffs.
OKC takes care of business against bad teams
Although losses in Detroit and San Antonio have overshadowed the team, Oklahoma City has often been elite against the league’s worst. There has been no better example than its season sweep of Portland.
The Thunder won all four games against the Trail Blazers by an average of 28.8 points. Including a 62-point win in January, the Thunder’s big wins against their division rival have shown how dangerous they can be when they have everything going.
Having those types of performances against contenders can be more difficult. Yet, when the Thunder have games like Wednesday, where they shoot 58%, it’s hard not to think of their high ceiling in the postseason.
Gordon Hayward is looking more like himself
Before the game in Portland, Hayward had played seven games with the Thunder and scored only 17 points. Although it was not a significant outburst, Hayward looked more comfortable in a Thunder uniform than in those other games.
He scored 10 and made his biggest mark in the third quarter. After getting a steal and starting a fast break, Hayward pulled up for a 3-pointer on the right wing as Oklahoma City made a run to extend the lead.
A 10-point game does not mean he is back to being an elite scorer, but that is not why Thunder GM Sam Presti traded for him. The idea is for Hayward to be a solid bench contributor and be the type of guy who can win a quarter like he did against the Trail Blazers.
It was not a pretty win, but that doesn’t matter at this point in the season. As the Thunder continue to show they can win games like this and players continue to perfect their roles, the team is moving in the right direction at the right time.
Oklahoma City will be back at home on Friday for its second matchup against the Miami Heat.
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