As the OKC Thunder take on the Portland Trail Blazers this Friday, two former Western Conference rivals find themselves in vastly different stages of their rebuilding journeys. Their last memorable clash ended in the 2019 playoffs with Damian Lillard’s iconic buzzer-beater that ended the Thunder’s season and separated the paths of then-Thunder stars Russell Westbrook and Paul George.
This time around, the Thunder are enjoying an impressive opening to the season with a flawless 4-0 record, powered by a league-best defense with an efficiency rating of 91.3. They’re now positioned as serious playoff contenders. On the other hand, the Trail Blazers, now post-Lillard, are entering their second season of adjustments with a youthful roster that has already pulled off notable upsets, including wins against the New Orleans Pelicans and LA Clippers.
The Thunder’s standout defense has led the league in both steals and blocks per game, bolstered by last season’s MVP runner-up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a fast-developing Chet Holmgren. Despite missing key players in the frontcourt, the Thunder are heavy favorites, with odds standing at -637 against the Trail Blazers’ +455.
Meanwhile, the Blazers are hoping for another solid performance led by Anfernee Simons, who scored 25 points in their recent victory over the Clippers. The Trail Blazers’ starting lineup, featuring Deandre Ayton and Deni Avdija, aims to challenge OKC’s defensive lineup with Gilgeous-Alexander, Holmgren, and Dort.
The game tips off at 10 p.m. ET at the Moda Center, with both teams fielding weakened frontcourts due to player absences. Although Portland is the underdog, their recent successes against strong Western Conference teams indicate they won’t go down without a fight.
