Oklahoma City Thunder at Portland Trail Blazers

By Sam Batz

The Oklahoma City Thunder travel to the Pacific Northwest to face division rival the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, March 26th (7:00 PM EST, Bally/Root/NBA League Pass). OKC leads the series 3-0 and looks to go undefeated against Portland. Over the three previous meetings, the Blazers averaged 116.0 points per game, while OKC averaged 120.7. Both sides will be hoping to qualify for the play-in tournament, and while Portland’s chances are slim to none, OKC has a real shot to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020. The Thunder will be expected to win in Portland on Sunday but the Blazers are hoping to spoil the party with the upset. 

Oklahoma City Thunder Breakdown

The OKC Thunder are 36-38 (48.6%) and are 10th in the West. The Thunder are 2.5 games out of the top-6 and the automatic playoff bid, but with just 8 games left on the schedule, the Thunder are being given an 18% chance to see the postseason. OKC has performed above preseason expectations, especially after 2nd overall draft pick Chet Holmgren went down with a season ending injury before the first game, but the youngest team in the league has defied expectations by simply having a shot at the playoffs. The Thunder are 6-4 in their last 10, but enter Sunday’s matchup after losing back-to-back road games. OKC are favored to beat the Blazers, but the Thunder struggle away from home, winning just 37.8% of the time, which may give Portland a window to pull-off the upset. 

Portland Trail Blazer Breakdown

The Blazers are 13th in the West with a record of 32-41 (43.8%). They won just 3 of their last 10 games and are coming off a blowout 124-96 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Friday. It was just the 9th game played with fewer than 100 points for Portland this season, but the Blazers were missing several key players who they hope to have back for Sunday. Unfortunately it may be too late for the Blazers; they are 6 games behind the top-6 seeds, and 3.5 games behind 10th-seed OKC. They still have a shot to make the play-in tournament, but unless they get healthy soon, the Blazers can kiss the playoffs goodbye. 

Thunder vs. Trail Blazers Odds

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Thunder vs. Trail Blazers: Season Stats

Thunder vs. Trail Blazers: Betting Trends

Thunder vs. Trail Blazers Game Changers

OKC Thunder

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.4 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game; SGA as exploded onto the scene in his 5th year
• There are no notable injuries on OKC’s injury report
• The Thunder win just 20.0% of the time when they are favored in away games
• OKC is a top-five team in scoring, but in their last 10 averaged 112.3 points per game, 5.2 points below their season average

Portland Trail Blazers

• Damian Lillard, arguably the GOAT of Portland, was ruled OUT for Friday’s game against the Bulls and is now listed as Day-to-Day. Lillard is averaging 32.2 points, 7.3 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game; the 32-year old is 3rd on the NBA scoring list
• Anfernee Simons and Jusuf Nurkić are Day-to-Day, while Jerami Grant (quad) and Justice Winslow (ankle) remain OUT
• Portland has a win-rate of 15.4% as the underdogs at home

Thunders vs. Trail Blazers Prediction

Take the Thunder to win the game (moneyline). If Damian Lillard is out, which is something to monitor closely, definitely take OKC. Portland is 5-10 without Lillard, and posted just 96 points in their last game without the 6-time All-Star. Jusuf Nurkić could also miss the game; the Blazers are 8-13 without the Bosnian Beast and will struggle without him. If Portland was healthy they would have a shot to beat the Thunder, but without their preferred starters, OKC will take the win. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 44 points against Portland’s shoddy defense in the last meeting, and with the Blazers giving up 119.0 points per game in the last 10 games, SGA is bound for another big day and a Thunder victory. 

Prediction: OKC Thunder Moneyline 

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