For years, the Oklahoma City Thunder have made life miserable for the Portland Trail Blazers. But over two remarkable nights at Moda Center, Damian Lillard and his teammates completely turned the tables on one of the Western Conference’s most feared opponents.
Two games. Two victories. And a statement that the rest of the conference should probably take seriously.
After dismantling Oklahoma City 123-103 on Tuesday, the Trail Blazers returned Wednesday night and defeated the Thunder again, 118-108, completing a stunning two-game sweep.
The results were remarkable considering the recent history between the franchises. Before Tuesday, Oklahoma City had won 19 of its previous 20 meetings with Portland. Suddenly, the Thunder couldn’t find a way to beat the Blazers at all.
And at the center of Portland’s resurgence is a familiar face. Damian Lillard, back in the city where he became a franchise legend, has rediscovered the joy of basketball after missing the entire previous season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. On Tuesday, the 36-year-old delivered a vintage performance, scoring 25 points and hitting four three-pointers as Portland transformed a 59-59 halftime deadlock into a commanding victory.
Lillard was devastating in the third quarter, scoring 13 points while connecting on three triples. His final three-pointer of the period came from near the center-court logo, giving Portland a 97-80 advantage and sending the Moda Center crowd into a frenzy.
Deni Avdija added 24 points, eight assists and six rebounds, while Portland’s defense limited Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to 26 points on 8-of-22 shooting.
But if Tuesday demonstrated Portland’s offensive potential, Wednesday revealed something arguably more important: its resilience. This time, Oklahoma City fought back.
Behind 31 points from Gilgeous-Alexander and an excellent 20-point, 11-rebound performance from Isaiah Hartenstein, the Thunder erased a double-digit deficit and surged ahead 92-88 early in the fourth quarter. It appeared that Oklahoma City might finally restore order. Instead, Portland responded with the composure of a team considerably more experienced than its relatively young roster suggests.
Avdija took control, finishing with 28 points, six assists and four steals, while Lillard scored 18 points and delivered several crucial baskets down the stretch. With the contest still hanging in the balance, Avdija buried a three-pointer to extend Portland’s lead to 106-100. Moments later, Lillard converted a floater and then attacked the basket for another important score.
The Thunder never recovered.
Jrue Holiday contributed 19 points off the bench, matching Sidy Cissoko’s total, while Donovan Clingan grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked three shots. Portland finished with 19 made three-pointers and converted an extraordinary 25 of its 26 free-throw attempts.
The consecutive victories improved the Blazers to 8-3, an impressive beginning for a team that entered the season with considerably fewer expectations than Oklahoma City. Of course, the Thunder were far from full strength. Injuries to Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace deprived Oklahoma City of several important contributors, significantly weakening its rotation.
That context matters. But it doesn’t diminish what Portland accomplished.
For years, the Trail Blazers were an organization caught between rebuilding and competing, searching for a new identity after Lillard’s original departure in 2023. Now, with their franchise icon back, Avdija emerging as a legitimate offensive leader and a promising young supporting cast contributing meaningful minutes, the pieces are beginning to fit together.
Lillard no longer needs to score 40 points every night for Portland to win. His shooting stretches defenses, his experience provides stability, and his ability to deliver in decisive moments complements the energy of his younger teammates.
Avdija, meanwhile, is developing into the kind of versatile, all-around star capable of sharing the offensive responsibility.
Eleven games are hardly enough to establish Portland as a championship contender. The Western Conference remains loaded with established powers, and the Blazers will have to demonstrate they can sustain this level of play.
But beating Oklahoma City twice in consecutive nights is considerably more meaningful than an ordinary early-season winning streak.
