The BreakdownGrind
Trail Blazers outlast Thunder through two fourth-quarter field-goal droughts
Portland went 5:43 without a field goal to open the 4th quarter, Oklahoma City then went 5:46 without one, and Sidy Cissoko's free throw broke the last tie.
The Portland Trail Blazers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-108 in a game that stayed within 5 points deep into its last two minutes. With the game tied at 99, Sidy Cissoko made the first of two free throws with 3:56 left to put Portland ahead for good, 100-99. The Thunder never got closer than 101-99. Deni Avdija led the Blazers with 28 points, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 for Oklahoma City.
| OKC | Stat | POR |
|---|---|---|
| 42.0 | FG% | 45.7 |
| 30.6 | 3PT% | 38.8 |
| 43 | Rebounds | 39 |
| 14 | Off. rebounds | 10 |
| 88 | FG attempts | 81 |
| 15 | Turnovers | 18 |
The 4th quarter was a drought at both ends
Portland began the 4th quarter with 5:43 of game clock without a field goal. In that stretch Nique Clifford's step-back three tied it at 88, and Kenrich Williams' cutting layup put the Thunder in front. Then Oklahoma City went 5:46 without a field goal, from 7:05 left until 1:19 remained.
Much of what came between was decided at the line. Two Gilgeous-Alexander free throws made it 98-95 Thunder. A Robert Williams III tip dunk and two Avdija free throws turned that into a 99-98 Portland lead. Jared McCain's free throw tied it at 99 before Cissoko's pair.
Avdija's step-back three then made it 106-100. Damian Lillard's floater and driving reverse layup stretched it to 110-102. McCain's banked three, the Thunder's first field goal since the drought began, cut it to 110-105 with 1:19 left. Lillard's two free throws at 1:00 made it 112-105.
Portland's threes fell more often
Both teams made 37 field goals. Portland made 19 of its 49 threes, 38.8%. Oklahoma City made 11 of 36, 30.6%. Gilgeous-Alexander missed all 7 of his attempts from deep. Off the bench, Jrue Holiday made 5 of 8. Cissoko made 4 of 7.
Oklahoma City took more shots
The Thunder took 88 shots to Portland's 81. They had 14 offensive rebounds to Portland's 10. Isaiah Hartenstein scored 12 in the 1st quarter and finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds, along with 6 turnovers. His bad pass in the last minute became an Avdija steal and running dunk for a 116-106 lead. Gilgeous-Alexander's 31 came on 9-of-20 shooting and 13-of-14 free throws.
At the line, Oklahoma City went 23 of 28. Portland went 25 of 26. Avdija and Lillard each went 6 of 6.
OKC ahead above the line · POR ahead below