What to Watch For in OKC Thunder vs. Portland Trail Blazers
The Oklahoma City Thunder face the Portland Trail Blazers on the second night of a back-to-back. The Thunder enter with an impeccable 8-0 record, marking the best start in franchise history.
Team Records and Coaching
- Portland holds a 4-3 record overall, going 3-1 in their last four games.
- Tiago Splitter is serving as the team's active head coach during ongoing investigations involving Chauncey Billups, who is currently on leave.
Injuries and Player Status
- Portland listed Scoot Henderson, Matisse Thybulle, Blake Wesley, and Damian Lillard as out for the game.
- Shaedon Sharpe is probable with a calf strain.
- Oklahoma City will be without All-NBA swingman Jalen Williams, veteran big man Kenrich Williams, and rookie guard Nikola Topic.
Key Player Conditions
On the second night of the back-to-back, keep an eye on rising star big man Chet Holmgren and bench guard Ajay Mitchell, who both suffered hard falls on Tuesday but continued to play against the Clippers. Defensive specialist Lu Dort exited Tuesday's game early due to a shoulder contusion.
The Thunder plan to release an official NBA injury report on Wednesday afternoon.
Let's dive into what to watch for in this contest.
Despite injury concerns on both sides, the Thunder's historic start and Portland's recent momentum set the stage for a compelling matchup.