Damian Lillard turned back the clock on Tuesday night. The Portland guard scored 25 points, including a 30-foot three-pointer over a 7-foot-3 centre just before the third-quarter buzzer, as the Trail Blazers stunned the Oklahoma City Thunder 123-103 at Moda Center in Portland.
It was only Portland’s second win over Oklahoma City in their past 21 meetings — and it was done in style, with Lillard sitting out the entire fourth quarter as the Blazers cruised home.
A third-quarter explosion
The game was tied 59-59 at halftime before Portland blew it open in the third quarter, outscoring the Thunder 38-21. Lillard scored 13 of his 25 points in that stretch, shooting 8-of-15 from the field with four three-pointers and making all five of his free throws.
The signature moment came in the closing seconds of the third. Lillard pulled up from 30 feet and buried a three over Aday Mara to make it 97-80 — one of three threes he hit from 28 to 30 feet in the quarter. He also scored or assisted on 12 points during a pivotal 17-4 Portland run that broke the game open.
Avdija shines as Blazers share the load
Lillard was not alone. Deni Avdija added 24 points, eight assists and six rebounds, while Sidy Cissoko scored 17 off the bench. Portland made 19 three-pointers on 50 attempts, keeping the Thunder defence stretched all night.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City with 26 points and eight rebounds, but the Thunder had no answer for Portland’s shooting once the third quarter turned.
What it means
Portland improved to 7-3, snapping a two-game losing skid, while the Thunder fell to 8-3. The two teams meet again in Portland on Wednesday 11 November — and after Tuesday’s statement win, the rematch suddenly looks a lot more interesting.
Elsewhere in the NBA on Tuesday, Cooper Flagg scored 43 points for the Mavericks against the Pacers, while Victor Wembanyama dropped 40 as the Spurs beat the Suns for a ninth straight win.
Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.