OKC Thunder's Historic Start Ends with Loss to Trail Blazers
The Oklahoma City Thunder fell to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night, dropping a close 121–119 road game after holding a 22-point first-half lead. The loss ended OKC’s perfect season start, moving the team to an 8–1 record.
Despite a strong opening, the Thunder couldn’t sustain their momentum as Portland mounted a furious comeback in the final quarter. The game underscored the challenge of endurance on the second night of a back-to-back, especially with key players unavailable: Chet Holmgren (lower back sprain), Lu Dort (right upper trap strain), and Alex Caruso (rest).
"I thought we had a chance to control the game, and we had some stretches that were pretty costly," said Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault. "The guys really fought to the end and gave ourselves a chance, but we didn’t execute enough to win."
Three Key Takeaways
- OKC’s 22-point lead evaporated as Portland surged with relentless fourth-quarter offense.
- The Thunder’s depth was tested due to multiple absences from their starting rotation.
- Jaylin Williams showed toughness, playing with three stitches above his swollen left eye from the previous night’s contest against the Clippers.
Injury Impact
The absence of Holmgren, Dort, and Caruso forced coach Daigneault to rotate lineups more aggressively. Despite the fatigue factor, OKC remained competitive deep into the fourth quarter, but Portland capitalized on late-game execution.
Williams, still nursing an eye injury from the Clippers matchup, played fearlessly, including a key defensive stand against Donovan Clingan late in the first quarter.
Looking Ahead
While the Thunder's perfect start has ended, their resilience and depth continue to suggest a promising season ahead.
Author’s summary: OKC’s unbeaten run ended in Portland after a strong start collapsed under pressure, revealing both the team’s grit and its need for better execution late in games.