Published By: Siddarth Sriram
Last Updated: November 20, 2023, 13:28 IST
United States of America (USA)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 28 factors earlier than heading to the bench within the third quarter and the Oklahoma City Thunder gained their fifth straight recreation with a 134-91 rout of the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night time.
Rookie Chet Holmgren added 16 factors and 6 rebounds for the Thunder, who led by as many as 47 factors. Isaiah Joe had 15 factors, all on 3-pointers.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault began sending his starters to the bench with about 5 minutes left within the third quarter and they didn’t return.
The Thunder shot 60.5% (49 of 81) from the ground, 61.1% (22 of 36) from 3-level vary and 100% (14 of 14) from the free throw line. Eleven completely different gamers hit a minimum of one 3.
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Jerami Grant had 14 factors to guide the quick-handed Blazers (3-10), who’ve misplaced seven straight video games.
“They just beat us in every way that you could in this game,” Portland coach Chauncey Billups mentioned.
The Thunder (10-4) have been enjoying the second of a again-to-again after a 130-123 extra time victory over the Warriors in San Francisco. Gilgeous-Alexander had 40 factors in that recreation.
“I think it just showed our mental fortitude to be able to come off a tough overtime game and be able to focus to execute our game plan for today’s game,” Joe mentioned. “We had a good game plan coming in and everyone took it upon themselves to be a pro and just get ready.”
The Thunder performed with out starter Jalen Williams, who damage his left hip throughout the recreation towards the Warriors and was sore on Sunday morning. Cason Wallace began in his place.
Portland has struggled with key accidents to beginning guard Anfernee Simons (thumb), rookie Scoot Henderson (ankle) and Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring). The accidents have made it powerful because the crew tries to maneuver on after All-Star Damian Lillard’s departure within the offseason.
Portland ranked final within the NBA with a mean of 103.9 factors per recreation.
“Truth of the matter is we’re dealing with a lot of things offensively. And anybody that knows, if you don’t have playmakers, you’re going to struggle. You’re going to struggle,” Billups mentioned. “We know that and we understand that. We don’t make any excuses about that.”
Billups mentioned that Brogdon was the closest to returning.
The Thunder confirmed no signal of fatigue within the early going, constructing a 33-18 lead within the first quarter. By halfway by way of the second, Oklahoma City had stretched the result in 51-29, and the crew went into halftime forward 76-43.
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Holmgren, who scored all his factors within the first half, was 6 for six from the sector. Oklahoma City shot 71.8% from the ground within the half.
The 43-level margin of victory was the biggest for the Thunder within the historical past of the sequence with Portland.
“I thought we played to our identity, regardless the circumstance and regardless of who was on the floor,” Daigneault mentioned. “It was a testament to the guys, and also to the guys that kept themselves sharp.”
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
