Alexander scored 35 points as Thunder beat Trail Blazers away

On January 28, the Thunder defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 117-102 on the road with the hot hand of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. This victory consolidated the Thunder's top position in the Western Conference and improved their season record to 38 wins and 8 losses. Alexander scored 35 points in this game, and also contributed 6 rebounds and 5 assists, showing the style of the league's top scorer.

At the beginning of the game, the Thunder quickly entered the state. Alexander showed his leadership style, hitting mid-range jump shots in succession and creating damage through breakthroughs. He scored 11 points in a single quarter and led the Thunder to end the first quarter with 28-20. The Trail Blazers, led by forward new star Scott Henderson, struggled to catch up, but the overall offensive efficiency was low, with as many as 5 turnovers in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Thunder's bench lineup performed well. Jaylen Williams and Isaiah Joe teamed up to play a 10-2 offensive, instantly widening the score difference to double digits. The Trail Blazers tried to narrow the gap through outside shooting, but the three-point shooting rate was only 25%. At the end of the half, the Thunder led 58-45 and firmly controlled the rhythm of the game.

After the start of the second half, the Thunder continued to show strong offensive and defensive performance. Alexander scored 14 points again in a single quarter, destroying the Trail Blazers' defense with accurate jump shots and sharp breakthroughs. Although the Trail Blazers' core player Jerami Grant performed steadily, he was alone and the team was unable to narrow the gap. After three quarters, the Thunder led 90-70 and victory was in sight.

In the final quarter, the Trail Blazers fought back under the leadership of Henderson, narrowing the gap to 12 points. However, the Thunder relied on Alexander's free throws and Williams' three-pointer at the critical moment to stabilize the situation again, completely extinguishing the opponent's hope of a counterattack. In the end, the Thunder won a hearty victory with a score of 117-102.

In this game, the Thunder showed absolute advantages on both offense and defense. Alexander's singles ability and scoring at critical moments allowed the team to always take the initiative, while the versatile performances of Giddy and Williams provided the team with more possibilities. The Thunder's team hit rate was as high as 51%, and the three-point shooting rate reached 42%, and the overall performance was far better than the Trail Blazers.

On the other hand, although Grant and Henderson played stably, the team lacked sufficient scoring support, and only three players scored in double digits. In addition, the loopholes on the defensive end also made it easy for the Thunder to score, especially on the perimeter defense, where they had difficulty limiting the Thunder's accurate three-point shooting.

The Thunder further consolidated their position at the top of the Western Conference with this victory and showed their ability to compete for the championship. Next, they will face the competitive Memphis Grizzlies, which will be another test for the Thunder.

The Blazers need to adjust their status as soon as possible, especially to strengthen defense and reduce mistakes. The team will face the Detroit Pistons next, a game they must win to avoid further slipping in the Western Conference rankings.