The Blazers already on vacation, with four of their incumbents including Damian Lillard in civilian clothes, the Thunder had free time in Portland to come and win and confirm their playoff ambitions. It took a long time to take shape but Oklahoma City finally managed to win (118-112), behind 31 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who mastered his subject in the last quarter.
Because, before that, rejuvenated Blazers had given the Thunder a hard time for a long time. As in the first quarter with 70% success on shots including 66% from afar. And again in the third quarter with a new heat stroke above the 30 points scored, including 13 for Nassir Little alone.
The latter will finish at 28 points in 31 minutes off the bench, one unit behind Shaedon Sharpe, the Canadian prodigy who was given the keys to the truck at the end of the coasting season (the second in a row) in Oregon.
On the Oklahoma City side, in addition to SGA at 31 points, we could count on a very good Jalen Williams (23 points), in particular the author of a spectacular two-handed dunk in traffic and a solid Josh Giddey (17 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists). Without forgetting Isaiah Joe, the shooting specialist who was very complete (20 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The Thunder do the job late in the game. As often in the regular season, the offensive festival that takes place in the first half slowed down on returning from the locker room, before stopping even more abruptly in the last quarter. The Thunder perfectly mastered their opponent in the last twelve minutes of the match. Far from the 37 points conceded in the first quarter, OKC conceded only 18 points in the 4th quarter. “We knew how to tear ourselves away. We did what we had to do, especially at the end of the match.appreciated Coach Daigneault. “We managed to chain several actions that made the difference at the end of the match. Our physical density has been very good over the last four or five minutes. »
– Blazers that blow hot and cold. Starting the game with a slew of substitutes, around the Canadian nugget Sharpe, the Blazers started the game on a high, like Kevin Knox at 9 points at 3/3 at 3-point. Similarly, refocused and re-motivated during half-time, the young Blazers were able to find the faults again, with a Little size boss with 13 of his 28 points over the period. But between those highs, the lows have been very low. And the end of the match, with a small 6/19 on shots, proves that there is still work for Coach Billups and his staff…
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. In an all-Canadian head-to-head against Sharpe, SGA upheld the birthright. The All-Star point guard quietly led the way with 31 points, 4 steals and 3 assists. He spent a good part of his evening throwing, at 13/15 in the exercise.
✅ Shaedon Sharpe. It is the “franchise player” of the Blazers at the end of the season. Like Anfernee Simons before him, Sharpe is placed at the center of his team’s offensive system and he chained a third game in a row to 20 points or more, with 29 units, his best, plus 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
✅ Jalen Williams. The Thunder rookie is heading straight for the best five beginners of the season, confirming his talent and formidable efficiency tonight with 23 points (9/14 on shots), 5 rebounds, 4 assists.
✅ Nassir Little. The former North Carolina was motivated tonight. Leaping and aggressive from the start, Little simply had his best game of the season with 28 points, plus 6 rebounds, at a very good 11/21 on shots.
⛔ The other Blazers starters. With a 10/24 on cumulative shots, the four holders around Sharpe were not very brilliant, far from it. This experimental five is a priori only made up to pass the time of this end of the season without stake in Portland.
⛔ Lu sleeps. The house defense specialist has certainly done his job on that side of the field, notably struggling with Sharpe, but he has completely torn up in attack. With a 2/14 on shots including 0/6 from 3-pointers, Dort missed…
THE FOLLOWING
Oklahoma City (37-38) : reception of the Hornets on Tuesday.
Portland (32-42) : continuation of a series of five games at home with the reception of the Pelicans this evening.
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