Trail Blazers Rally to Defeat Thunder
Deni Avdija led the Portland Trail Blazers with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists as they overcame a 22-point deficit to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-119 on Wednesday night.
Key Performances
- Jrue Holiday contributed 22 points, including two crucial free throws that put Portland ahead 121-118 with six seconds remaining.
- Jerami Grant scored 20 points off the bench, helping the Blazers hand the defending NBA champions their first loss of the season.
Crucial Moments
With the Thunder trailing by three points late in the game, Isaiah Joe was fouled attempting a jumper with 0.5 seconds left. A replay showed his toe was on the three-point line. Joe made his first free throw and intentionally missed the second. Oklahoma City then failed on a last-second tip-in.
Thunder Highlights
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points.
- Aaron Wiggins added 27 points.
- The Thunder were missing Chet Holmgren, Lu Dort, and Alex Caruso, who all sat out the game.
Game Progression
Holiday’s jumper gave Portland its first lead at 97-96 with 6:44 remaining. After forcing a backcourt violation, Holiday hit a three-pointer to extend the lead to 100-96. Wiggins responded with a 5-0 run, putting the Thunder ahead 101-100. From there, the lead changed multiple times until Grant’s jumper put Portland ahead 105-104.
“Jrue Holiday’s clutch free throws sealed the victory with just six seconds left.”
Portland improved to 5-3 on the season, while Oklahoma City fell to 8-1.
Author’s Summary
The Trail Blazers showcased resilience by erasing a large deficit and securing a narrow win over the Thunder, who missed key players and suffered their first loss of the season.