PHOTO/Getty Images-Cameron Browne
This season's Thunder squad did something last night that last season's Thunder team (the one with Russell Westbrook and Paul George leading the way) could not. It beat Portand IN Portland.
The Thunder had lost four straight to the Trail Blazers on the road including the first game the two teams played this season. That contest wasn't much of a game with Portland getting off to a roaring start and scorching the Thunder with 42 points in the first quarter.
Last night the Blazers managed less than half that with just 20 in the opening 12 minutes and the Thunder kept up the defensive pressure all night, holding Portland to just 36% shooting overall and 27.3% on threes.
Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 14 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter when the Thunder put the game away. Dennis Schroder also finished with 21 and Chris Paul added 20.
The win moves the Thunder into a 3-way tie for 7th place in the Western Conference standings.
More about last night's game in today's Thunder Game Report....
The Thunder will play at Utah tonight on the second night of a back-to-back. Tipoff at 8pm on Fox Sports Oklahoma.