Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 26 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder increased their winning streak to 12 with a 123-115 victory over the host Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night.
Chet Holmgren added 19 points and nine rebounds as the defending champion Thunder won for the 20th time in 21 games this season. Their lone loss came at Portland on Nov. 5 when they blew a 22-point lead and lost 121-119.
Oklahoma City is off to the NBA’s best start since the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors won their first 21 games as part of a 24-0 start.
Jaylen Williams added 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists in his second game since his return from two wrist surgeries. Ajay Mitchell had 17 points and fellow reserve Isaiah Joe had 15 points while starter Luguentz Dort added 10 for the Thunder, who have won 18 of their last 19 meetings with the Trail Blazers.
Deni Avdija recorded 31 points, a season-best 19 rebounds and 10 assists for Portland, which fell for the ninth time in 12 games.
Toumani Camara added 19 points and eight rebounds, and Jerami Grant scored 18 points for the Trail Blazers. Kris Murray added 13 and backup Caleb Love scored 12.
Oklahoma City shot 48.9% from the field, including 10 of 29 from 3-point range. The Thunder played without center Isaiah Hartenstein (calf).
The Trail Blazers made 39.3% of their attempts and were 16 of 49 from behind the arc. Center Donovan Clingan (illness) sat out for Portland.
The Thunder trailed by two entering the final stanza but ripped off the first eight points of the fourth. Mitchell’s steal and layup capped the burst and gave Oklahoma City a 93-87 lead with 10:24 remaining in the game.
Portland later moved within two before Mitchell scored the next five points and Kenrich Williams followed with a basket to give the Thunder a 102-93 lead with 6:53 remaining.
The Trail Blazers later trailed 107-105 after a 3-pointer by Murray. But Holmgren’s layup and Gilgeous-Alexander’s mid-range jumper gave Oklahoma City a 111-105 advantage with 2:30 remaining.
Gilgeous-Alexander swished a pull-up jumper with 31 seconds left to make it 119-100 and Oklahoma City closed it out.
Grant capped his 13-point, first half with a 3-pointer with 9.2 seconds left to give the Trail Blazers a 55-54 lead at the break. Gilgeous-Alexander had 12 points in the half for Oklahoma City.
Portland received a layup from Robert Williams III with 0.9 seconds remaining in the third quarter for an 87-85 advantage.
