The Oklahoma City Thunder looked tired as the game went on against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night. Playing the second game of a back-to-back is rarely easy, particularly when on the road, but the Lakers were just the better team that night. Now OKC gets a chance to get back in the win column as they wrap up the current road trip with a stop in Portland against the ailing Trail Blazers.
The Blazers have been missing a chunk of their roster throughout the season due to various injuries and illnesses, and the trend continues as they’re missing at least a few guys if not almost all of their starters. Regardless of who plays for Portland, they don’t seem particularly interested in winning at this junction in the season, and tanking seems to be the focus down the stretch. OKC needs to get in and get out with an easy win so they can get back home and prepare for the Miami Heat.
Tip-Off: 9 PM CT
Location: Moda Center (Portland, Oregon))
Television: Bally Sports Oklahoma
Radio: WWLS 98.1FM OKC The Sports Animal
Twitter: Follow @ZacharyLowNBA for live tweets and discussion during the game
Game Notes: Oklahoma City Thunder Official Game Notes, Portland Trail Blazers Official Game Notes
Projected Starters
Thunder
- PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- SG: Josh Giddey
- SF: Luguentz Dort
- PF: Jalen Williams
- C: Chet Holmgren
Blazers
- PG: Anfernee Simons
- SG: Kris Murray
- SF: Jerami Grant
- PF: Toumani Camara
- C: Duop Reath
Injury Report
Thunder
- Ousmane Dieng is OUT (G League – on assignment)
- Adam Flager is OUT (G League — two-way).
- Keyontae Johnson is OUT (G League — two-way).
- Jaylin Williams is OUT (sprained left knee).
Blazers
- DeAndre Ayton is DOUBTFUL (sprained right hand).
- Malcolm Brogdon is OUT (tendinitis in right elbow).
- Toumani Camar is QUESTIONABLE (illness).
- Jerami Grant is QUESTIONABLE (right quad contusion).
- Scoot Henderson is OUT (strained left adductor).
- Shaedon Sharpe is OUT (lower abdominal surgery).
- Matisse Thybulle is QUESTIONABLE (strained left hip).
- Robert Williams III is OUT (ligament tear in right knee).
Head-to-Head
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder is 36-26 (20-11 at home, 16-15 on the road) against the Trail Blazers in the regular season and 1-4 (1-1 at home, 0-3 on the road) in the playoffs.
- Since arriving in Oklahoma City in 2008, the Thunder has won the season series against the Trail Blazers 6 times, lost it 6 times, and tied 3 times.
- The Thunder went 4-0 (2-0 at home, 2-0 on the road) against the Blazers last season.
- The Thunder is 3-0 against the Blazers so far this season (2-0 at home, 1-0 on the road).
- The Thunder has won 11 straight against the Blazers including 5 straight in Portland.