OKC Thunder's Historic Start Ends in Narrow Loss to Portland Trail Blazers
On a turbulent Wednesday night in Portland, the Trail Blazers edged the OKC Thunder 121-119, halting Oklahoma City's record-breaking start to the season at 8-1.
The Thunder controlled much of the first half, building a 22-point lead, but Portland mounted a strong comeback fueled by a scoring surge in the fourth quarter.
Impact of Key Absences
OKC faced the game shorthanded, missing Chet Holmgren (lower back sprain), Lu Dort (right upper trap strain), and Alex Caruso (rest) during the second night of a back-to-back.
Coach's Reflection
"I thought we had a chance to control the game, and we had some stretches that were pretty costly. I thought the guys really tried to grit it out and gave ourselves a chance down the stretch, but we didn't execute enough to win." – Mark Daigneault, Thunder head coach
Key Moment
Jaylin Williams, still nursing a swollen left eye with stitches from an elbow injury sustained the previous night, confidently locked eyes with Donovan Clingan in the final minute of the first quarter without hesitation.
Additional Context
- The game marked the Thunder's first loss after establishing the best start in the franchise's history.
- Portland’s late-game surge was pivotal in overcoming the Thunder’s early dominance.
Related Highlights
Earlier in the season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to a victory over the Clippers, setting the franchise record for the best start to a season.
Author's summary: Despite a strong start and battling injuries, OKC Thunder's historic season-opening streak ended with a narrow defeat as Portland mounted a late, decisive rally.