Gilgeous-Alexander made 13 of 18 attempts from the field and made all nine of his free throws.
Ajay Mitchell scored 20 points on 8-for-8 shooting as the defending champion Thunder won their ninth straight after a 121-119 loss in Portland on Nov. 5. They improved to an NBA-best 17-1 and are 85-15 since the start of last season.
The Thunder continues to perform despite injuries. They are still waiting for 2025 All-Star Jalen Williams to return from wrist surgery, and key reserve Aaron Wiggins missed the game with a left thigh strain. Nevertheless, Oklahoma City’s average scoring margin during its winning streak is 22.3 points, with a margin of 13 points being the closest result.
Jerami Grant led Portland with 21 points. Deni Avdija, who led the Trail Blazers with 26 points in the first time the teams met, finished with 11 points on 4-for-16 shooting in the rematch.
Portland guards Shadden Sharp and Jrue Holiday were both out with right calf strains. Sharp is the team’s second-leading scorer and Holiday is one of the team’s best perimeter defenders.
Gilgeous-Alexander set the tone by scoring 17 points in the first quarter and helped the Thunder take a 39-18 lead.
In the second quarter, Oklahoma City’s Mitchell drove to the hoop before being hit in the head by Portland’s Ryan Rupert while going for the block. The Thunder ran down Mitchell to save him and Oklahoma City’s Isaiah Hartenstein was called for a technical to escalate the situation. Mitchell made the second of two free throws on a shooting foul, then made a floater to put the Thunder ahead 49–25.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s layup in the final seconds of the first half increased his total to 28 points and gave the Thunder a 67–46 lead at the break. The game was never close in the second half.
The teams will meet again next Sunday in Portland.
Trail Blazers: Monday night at Milwaukee.
Thunder: Host Minnesota on Wednesday night.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
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