The Oklahoma City Thunder have been on a fantastic run. Heading into Wednesday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers, they had won eight straight games to start the season, and had the best record in the National Basketball Association.
On Wednesday night at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, the Trail Blazers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-119, and handed Oklahoma City’s first loss. However, it is the way the Trail Blazers came through with the win that made headlines. Portland had a great comeback as they were once down 43-21 with one minute and 23 seconds into the second quarter. Then the Trail Blazers outscored the Thunder 100-76 the rest of the way for the win by a field goal.
Six Trail Blazers reached double digits in points. Small forward Deni Avdija of Beit Zera, Israel led Portland in scoring with a double-double as he had 26 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Jrue Holiday of Chatsworth, California, who is in his first year in Portland after an offseason trade with the Boston Celtics, had 22 points. Meanwhile, forward Jerami Grant of Portland scored 20 points off the bench, Canadian shooting guard Shaedon Sharpe of Toronto, Ontario had 18 points, power forward Toumani Camara of Brussels, Belgium had 16 points, and center Duop Reath of Waat, South Sudan had 12 points.
With the win, the Trail Blazers have improved to a record of five wins and three losses. They have also delivered impressive wins over the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets to date. In fact, their win over the Warriors on October 24 came by 20 points in a 139-119 victory.
