Game Recap: OKC 96, POR 93
Highlights: OKC 96, POR 93
By Paris Lawson | Broadcast and Digital Reporter | okcthunder.com
Neither team led by more than 10 points in this rematch between the Trail Blazers and the Thunder. It came down to a gritty, blue-collar effort in the final two minutes for the Thunder to escape Rose City with a 96-93 win. OKC’s defense posted yet another incredible performance holding Portland to just 18 percent from the 3-point line while its offense racked up 24 assists on just 33 made baskets.
It was another closely contested ball game for the Thunder who never led by more than seven points against Portland. It came down to the final seconds of the game where OKC toggled between a one and two possession lead. Portland continued to throw its punches in the form of an Anfernee Simons and one with 3.6 seconds left to make it a two-point ball game. It wouldn’t be enough as Simons’ final 3-point attempt at the buzzer would come up just short, but it was a testament to the Thunder for putting itself in a position to maintain its lead despite the punches.
The Thunder remained relentless. A series of gritty hustle plays down the stretch allowed OKC to maintain its buffer and stay afloat. In one example, OKC 10-day signee Mamadi Diakite stepped up during crunch time and cashed in a pair of free throws with 14 seconds left to give OKC a critical five-point lead. In another, Thunder defensive ace Lu Dort came up with a massive defensive stop that turned what would have been a Simons layup into a jump ball.
“We know in those tight games it becomes a possession game and you’ve got to value every possession that means not giving up offensive rebounds, not turning the ball over and getting good shots,” said Thunder rookie Josh Giddey. “I think a lot of the time down the stretch we did that.”
“We just stayed together,” said Thunder guard Lu Dort who led the way with a game-high 22 points. “I felt like we did a great job trying to not give them any second chances. Just being really gritty and fighting hard on the rebound. I was just a fight the whole game. We just had to stay together and fight to win.”
For the third consecutive game. The Thunder’s ball movement proved to be a catalyst in its offensive impact. OKC registered 24 assists on just 33 made baskets on Friday which marked the third straight game for OKC to log 22 or more dimes.
Ty Jerome led the way for the Thunder with eight assists which resulted in a whopping 21 points for the Thunder’s offense.
“Our ball movement has been awesome,” said Thunder rookie Josh Giddey. “I think it starts with Ty off the bench with that second unit. He just gets the ball moving so well. Other guys follow on and it’s just a trickle-down effect. He gets them going and he makes everyone around him better.”
“When the ball is in my hands, I try to find a way to create close outs for guys, create good shots force and just taking what the defense gives me,” said Jerome.
It was déjà vu for the Trail Blazers when it came to 3-point shooting. Just five days prior, Portland suffered a season-low 18-percent shooting clip at the hands of the Thunder in Oklahoma City. On Friday, they were held to the same number.
OKC limited Portland to an 0-for-6 start from deep in the first quarter and through the remaining three, the Blazers would only go 6-for-27.
“We all know their main players shoot the ball really well,” said Dort. “So our main focus was to take them off the line and make them drive and I feel like we did a good job.”
“I think tonight our defense was awesome,” said Giddey. “That’s the end we want to hang our hat on. I think towards the end of the game we were really good on that end and forced them into tough shots and we were good in our rotations.”
With 32 points off the bench, the Thunder rounded an incredible milestone of 200 consecutive games with 20 or more bench points. The streak dates back to April of 2019 and marks the longest streak in 40 seasons.
Kenrich Williams, Mike Muscala and Ty Jerome all registered double digits off the bench as each one sank two or more 3-pointers. It wasn’t just the scoring that made an impact for the Thunder though.
Ty Jerome generated a game-high 21 points off of his eight assists, Kenrich Williams registered six rebounds and a pair of steals and Mike Muscala pulled down five boards while also swatting away a block.
“They were huge,” said Giddey. “When out starters are out, we don’t lose any slack and that’s the best part about it.”
“Most of our made shots were assisted,” said Daigneault. “I thought those guys kind of started that for us and then we continued it throughout the rest of the 48.”
“I thought we were pretty gutsy, especially in the second half. Similar to the other night, we just made a lot of physical plays. Really good rim protection plays…Obviously good situations down the stretch, good situation for us to learn from because we could have executed a lot of those things a little better and we did. A lot of good things to close the game but really good competitive level again.”
—Coach Daigneault on being in another close game
The Thunder concludes its three-game road trip with a matchup against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday before returning home to begin a stretch of four games in six nights.