Game ID: 22300529
Portland Trail Blazers @ Oklahoma City Thunder
Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
OKC 36 39 43 21 139POR 24 15 17 21 77
OKC vs POR ScoutingOKC vs POR Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
OKC availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backOUT Dieng missed 5 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Micić back 12/26 after 2, 13 min since (110% of 12)
OKC availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Dieng missed 6 since 12/26, out tonight
OKC availability going into 1/08 · 2 days' restOUT Dieng missed 7 since 12/26, out tonight
OKC availability going into 1/10 · 1 day's restOUT Dieng missed 8 since 12/26, out tonight
OKC availability going into 1/11 · back-to-backOUT Dieng missed 9 since 12/26, returns tonight: 23 min (225% of 10)
OKC availability going into 1/13 · 1 day's restBACK Dieng back 1/11 after 9, 23 min since (225% of 10)
OKC availability going into 1/15 · 1 day's restBACK Dieng back 1/11 after 9, 16 min since (154% of 10)
OKC availability going into 1/16 · back-to-backBACK Dieng back 1/11 after 9, 15 min since (144% of 10)
OKC availability going into 1/18 · 1 day's restBACK Dieng back 1/11 after 9, 12 min since (118% of 10)
POR availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Simons missed 3 since 12/28, returns tonight: 27 min (78% of 34)
OUT Ayton missed 4 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Reath missed 3 since 12/28, returns tonight: 6 min (34% of 18)
OUT Rupert missed 4 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 11 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Sharpe back 1/01 after 5, 18 min since (54% of 33)
BACK Murray back 12/23 after 4, 8 min since (39% of 22)
BACK Mays back 12/23 after 4, 12 min since (68% of 17)
BACK Badji back 12/26 after 9, 12 min since (121% of 10)
POR availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Ayton missed 5 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Rupert missed 5 since 12/26, returns tonight: 19 min (115% of 16)
OUT Minaya missed 12 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Simons back 1/03 after 3, 27 min since (78% of 34)
BACK Sharpe back 1/01 after 5, 20 min since (61% of 33)
BACK Murray back 1/01 after 2, 17 min since (77% of 22)
BACK Reath back 1/03 after 3, 6 min since (34% of 18)
BACK Badji back 12/26 after 9, 13 min since (125% of 10)
POR availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Ayton missed 6 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 13 since 12/11, out tonight
BACK Simons back 1/03 after 3, 25 min since (73% of 34)
BACK Sharpe back 1/01 after 5, 21 min since (65% of 33)
BACK Murray back 1/01 after 2, 18 min since (82% of 22)
BACK Reath back 1/03 after 3, 16 min since (92% of 18)
BACK Rupert back 1/05 after 5, 19 min since (115% of 16)
NEW Henderson 28 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Badji 10 to 16 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Ayton missed 7 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Walker missed 2 since 1/05, out tonight
OUT Minaya missed 14 since 12/11, returns tonight: 12 min (107% of 11)
BACK Simons back 1/03 after 3, 32 min since (93% of 34)
BACK Sharpe back 1/01 after 5, 26 min since (79% of 33)
BACK Murray back 1/01 after 2, 15 min since (70% of 22)
BACK Reath back 1/03 after 3, 25 min since (137% of 18)
BACK Rupert back 1/05 after 5, 19 min since (115% of 16)
POR availability going into 1/11 · 1 day's restOUT Ayton missed 8 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Walker missed 3 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Simons back 1/03 after 3, 31 min since (89% of 34)
BACK Sharpe back 1/01 after 5, 25 min since (76% of 33)
BACK Murray back 1/01 after 2, 15 min since (71% of 22)
BACK Reath back 1/03 after 3, 24 min since (132% of 18)
BACK Rupert back 1/05 after 5, 15 min since (94% of 16)
BACK Minaya back 1/09 after 14, 12 min since (107% of 11)
NEW Badji 10 to 18 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 1/12 · back-to-backOUT Ayton missed 9 since 12/26, out tonight
OUT Walker missed 4 since 1/05, returns tonight: 32 min (138% of 24)
BACK Simons back 1/03 after 3, 28 min since (83% of 34)
BACK Reath back 1/03 after 3, 24 min since (133% of 18)
BACK Rupert back 1/05 after 5, 14 min since (88% of 16)
BACK Minaya back 1/09 after 14, 13 min since (114% of 11)
NEW Badji 10 to 18 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 1/14 · 1 day's restOUT Ayton missed 10 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Walker back 1/12 after 4, 32 min since (138% of 24)
BACK Rupert back 1/05 after 5, 12 min since (76% of 16)
BACK Minaya back 1/09 after 14, 12 min since (104% of 11)
NEW Reath 18 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Badji 10 to 16 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 1/17 · 2 days' restOUT Sharpe missed 2 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 11 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Walker back 1/12 after 4, 31 min since (130% of 24)
BACK Minaya back 1/09 after 14, 13 min since (117% of 11)
NEW Reath 18 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Badji 10 to 16 min over the last 4
POR availability going into 1/19 · 1 day's restOUT Sharpe missed 3 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Ayton missed 12 since 12/26, returns tonight: 30 min (93% of 32)
BACK Walker back 1/12 after 4, 30 min since (129% of 24)
BACK Minaya back 1/09 after 14, 13 min since (117% of 11)
NEW Reath 18 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Badji 10 to 17 min over the last 4
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 127, shooting 56 percent and 43 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 33 and Holmgren at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 123, shooting 42 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Grant at 18 and Simons at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Ayton (8 straight), Walker (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 43 percent from three to Portland's 34 and the turnovers, Portland giving it away 16 times a game to OKC's 12. Call it OKC 123, Portland 112, OKC by 11.
1/03 @ ATL 138-141 — OKC notes
OKC lost 138-141. OKC shot 55% (50 of 91) to ATL's 51%, 18 of 36 from three, and got to the line 26 times to ATL's 33. The glass went 37-49 against them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 33 (11 of 24, 2 of 3 from three, 9 of 11 at the line); Jal. Williams added 21, Wallace 15. Q4 was theirs, 35-25, the deficit cut from 13 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 116-103 against them. Wallace's -16 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/05 @ BKN 115-124 — OKC notes
OKC lost 115-124. OKC shot 54% (45 of 84) to BKN's 45%, 9 of 31 from three, and got to the line 24 times to BKN's 33. The glass went 36-51 against them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 34 (11 of 19, 2 of 5 from three, 10 of 15 at the line); Jal. Williams added 20, Holmgren 17. Q4 was theirs, 36-23, the deficit cut from 22 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 101-79 against them. K. Williams's -12 in 12 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/08 @ WAS 136-128 — OKC notes
OKC won 136-128. OKC shot 59% (52 of 88) to WAS's 49%, 14 of 28 from three. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 32 (11 of 17, 2 of 3 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Holmgren added 31, Jal. Williams 21. The hinge was Q1, 36-30: from level to 6 ahead. Jal. Williams was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
1/10 @ MIA 128-120 — OKC notes
OKC won 128-120. OKC shot 59% (51 of 86) to MIA's 46%, 14 of 33 from three, and got to the line 16 times to MIA's 28. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 28 (11 of 17, 2 of 5 from three); Holmgren added 23, Jal. Williams 19. The hinge was Q3, 34-27: OKC came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 3, and the lead reached 16. OKC trailed 65-69 at the half and won the second half 63-51. Micić was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
1/11 vs POR 139-77 — OKC notes
OKC won 139-77. OKC shot 57% (53 of 93) to POR's 28%, 14 of 35 from three, and went to the line 22 times to POR's 16 — 19 points from the stripe to their 10. The glass went 59-42 for them. Gilgeous-Alexander led with 31 (11 of 15, 1 of 3 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Jal. Williams added 21, Holmgren 19. The hinge was Q3, 43-17: a lead of 36 became 62. Giddey was the night's best plus/minus at +46.
1/13 vs ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 131 a night and allowing 118, shooting 57 percent and 42 from three, 22 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Holmgren at 20 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. Orlando comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 116, shooting 44 percent and 41 from three, 24 free throws a game; Banchero at 31 and Suggs at 18 a game. Without F. Wagner (4 straight), Carter Jr. (4 straight), Gar. Harris (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: OKC wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it OKC 122, Orlando 113.
1/15 @ LAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 124, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 26 free throws a game; Davis at 24 and James at 22 a game. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Vincent (12 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 110, shooting 55 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Holmgren at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 110 a night to the Lakers' 124 and the glass, where OKC has been plus-1 a night and the Lakers minus-6. Call it OKC 121, the Lakers 115.
1/16 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 113, shooting 51 percent and 45 from three, 19 free throws a game; George at 26 and Leonard at 22 a game. Without Tucker (23 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 107, shooting 52 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 30 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the arc, the Clippers at 45 percent from three to OKC's 36. Call it the Clippers 117, OKC 115, OKC keeping it close.
1/18 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 133 a night and allowing 114, shooting 53 percent and 42 from three, 29 free throws a game; Markkanen at 26 and Sexton at 24 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Hendricks (2 straight), Horton-Tucker (6 straight), Juzang (16 straight). 2 days' rest. OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 107, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 28 and Jal. Williams at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-11 a night and OKC plus-2 and the line, where Utah takes 29 free throws a game to OKC's 18. Call it Utah 119, OKC 117, OKC keeping it close.
1/03 @ DAL 97-126 — POR notes
POR lost 97-126. POR shot 39% (34 of 87) to DAL's 50%, 13 of 40 from three, and got to the line 22 times to DAL's 41. POR turned it over 22 times to DAL's 11, and DAL turned those into 12 steals. Sharpe led with 16 (6 of 12, 1 of 5 from three); Simons added 15, Thybulle 12. Q3 was theirs, 27-24, the deficit cut from 31 to 28, but the other 3 periods went 102-70 against them. Simons's -31 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/05 @ DAL 103-139 — POR notes
POR lost 103-139. POR shot 41% (39 of 95) to DAL's 58%, 13 of 40 from three. The glass went 42-52 against them. Grant led with 18 (6 of 11, 2 of 3 from three); Henderson added 17, Reath 16. Q2 was theirs, 27-24, the deficit cut from 12 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 115-76 against them. Henderson's -26 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/07 @ BKN 134-127 — POR notes
POR won 134-127 in 1 overtime. POR shot 47% (45 of 95) to BKN's 51%, 20 of 38 from three. POR turned it over 9 times to BKN's 15. Simons led with 38 (13 of 25, 5 of 10 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Grant added 27, S. Sharpe 21. The hinge was Q4, 30-22: POR came in trailing by 8 and left it level. POR trailed 50-52 at the half and won the second half 84-75. Brogdon was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
1/09 @ NYK 84-112 — POR notes
POR lost 84-112. POR shot 38% (33 of 86) to NYK's 42%, 6 of 29 from three. The glass went 43-55 against them. Grant led with 21 (8 of 16, 1 of 4 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Simons added 12. Q4 was theirs, 23-15, the deficit cut from 36 to 28, but the other 3 periods went 97-61 against them. Grant's -31 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/11 @ OKC 77-139 — POR notes
POR lost 77-139. POR took 8 more shots (101 to 93), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 28% to OKC's 57%, 11 of 49 from three, and got to the line 16 times to OKC's 22. The glass went 42-59 against them. Simons led with 14 (4 of 13, 4 of 8 from three); Henderson added 13. Q4 was theirs, 21-21, but the other 3 periods went 118-56 against them. Henderson's -56 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/12 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 21 free throws a game; Edwards at 26 and Towns at 24 a game. One day's rest. Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 99 a night and allowing 129, shooting 39 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Grant at 17 and Simons at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Ayton (9 straight), Walker (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 109 a night to Portland's 129 and the glass, where Minnesota has been plus-2 a night and Portland minus-8. Call it Minnesota 120, Portland 104, Minnesota by 16.
1/14 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 98 a night and allowing 127, shooting 39 percent and 33 from three, 23 free throws a game; Grant at 18 and Simons at 15 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Ayton (10 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 119, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Booker at 26 and Durant at 24 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been minus-4 a night and Portland minus-10 and the defense, Phoenix allowing 119 a night to Portland's 127. Call it Phoenix 118, Portland 111.
1/17 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 124, shooting 39 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Simons at 19 and Grant at 18 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Sharpe (2 straight), Ayton (11 straight). 2 days' rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 114, shooting 43 percent and 30 from three, 26 free throws a game; Bridges at 25 and Thomas at 16 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Simmons (32 straight), Clowney (8 straight), Wilson (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been plus-3 a night and Portland minus-9 and the defense, Brooklyn allowing 114 a night to Portland's 124. Call it Brooklyn 115, Portland 111, Portland keeping it close.
1/19 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 95 a night and allowing 119, shooting 39 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Grant at 18 and Simons at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Sharpe (3 straight), Ayton (12 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 116, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mathurin at 16 and Bru. Brown at 15 a game. Without Haliburton (5 straight), Nesmith (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Indiana wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Indiana has been plus-3 a night and Portland minus-7 and the arc, Indiana at 36 percent from three to Portland's 32. Call it Indiana 117, Portland 113, Portland keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
OKCAW A. Wiggins
CH C. Holmgren
CW C. Wallace
IJ I. Joe
JG J. Giddey
JW J. Williams
JW Jal. Williams
JW Jay. Williams
KJ K. Johnson
KW K. Williams
LD L. Dort
LW L. Waters III
MI Micic
OD O. Dieng
SG S. Gilgeous-Alexander
TM T. Mann
VM V. Micić
PORAS A. Simons
DR D. Reath
IB I. Badji
JG J. Grant
JM J. Minaya
KM K. Murray
MT M. Thybulle
RR R. Rupert
SH S. Henderson
SS S. Sharpe
TC T. Camara
OKC/POR the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Thunder roll past Trail Blazers 139-77, tie fifth-biggest victory margin in NBA history
OKLAHOMA CITY -- — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, Josh Giddey had a triple-double and the Oklahoma City Thunder rolled past the Portland Trail Blazers 139-77 on Thursday night, a 62-point victory that matched the fifth-largest rout in NBA history.
“It was almost like a perfect storm, to be honest with you," Portland coach Chauncey Billups said. "Nothing really worked for us.”
Oklahoma City shattered its previous record for victory margin of 45 points, set twice during the 2012-13 season. The Thunder moved into a tie with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the best record in the Western Conference at 26-11.
The Thunder were on the wrong end of the NBA's biggest blowout, losing by 73 to Memphis on Dec. 2, 2021. Gilgeous-Alexander did not play that day, but he remembers being embarrassed for his teammates.
“After that game, we addressed it, and we just made a promise to ourselves to never feel that feeling again," he said. "I think it’s been a little bit of our fuel to get to where we are tonight.”
It was the Trail Blazers' second-worst loss, having fallen by 65 to Indiana on Feb. 27, 1998.
Jalen Williams scored 21 points, Chet Holmgren added 19 and Giddey had 13 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists for his ninth career triple-double as the Thunder shot 57% from the field. It was a complete victory for an Oklahoma City team that had won at Miami the night before and returned home at 3 a.m. Thursday.
“I thought we cleared a couple hurdles tonight," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "I thought the first one was the start of the game, how ready we were to play and the energy we were able to generate, obviously, with a tough schedule, which is a step forward. It’s mind over matter. And then the other hurdle was playing with a lead … I thought we played pretty well with a lead, both ends of the floor.”
Portland's Anfernee Simons scored 14 points and Scoot Henderson had 13 on 4-for-21 shooting. The Trail Blazers shot just 27.7% from the field.
On the other hand, Oklahoma City had 41 assists on 53 made field goals.
“I mean, this was, sheesh -- not much really good to say about this one for us,” Billups said. “I mean, I will say this. I thought that we generated some pretty good looks in the first half. The fact that we couldn’t make pretty much anything deflated us.”
Henderson scored the first five points of the game before the Thunder responded with a 22-2 run to take control. The highlight of the run was an odd basket by Holmgren. He drove to the rim on a fast break and was basically tackled from behind by Portland's Jerami Grant . Somehow, Holmgren threw the ball up over his shoulder and into the hoop to give Oklahoma City an 18-7 lead.
Oklahoma City dominated from there, stretching the lead to 75-39 at halftime. Portland's frustration boiled over when Shaedon Sharpe and Billups both were called for technical fouls with 1:45 left in the second quarter.
The Thunder kept it going in the second half. Giddey threw a pass like a quarterback nearly the length of the court and found Williams for a layup to put the Thunder up 86-46. Oklahoma City outscored the Trail Blazers 43-17 in the third quarter to take a 118-56 edge into the fourth.