Damian Lillard scored 25 points (13 in the third quarter, on 3 3-pointers, a layup and a jumper), and the Portland Trail Blazers closed the third quarter on a 27-9 run to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 123-103.
The Trail Blazers led by as many as 22, pulling away with a 27-9 run in the third quarter.
Deni Avdija had 24 points and 8 assists.
For the Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 26 points (12 in the first quarter, on a layup, a floater, a jumper and 6 free throws) and 8 rebounds, and Jared McCain added 21 points. Gilgeous-Alexander went 2 for 3 on fadeaways. Fadeaways have been 9% of his shots since 2022-23, more than twice the league’s rate, and he has made 51.2% of them (the league: 42.3%).
The Trail Blazers shot 44.0% from the field and 38.0% from 3 to the Thunder’s 44.0% and 36.4%. The Thunder forced 9 turnovers, about 6 fewer than usual for this many possessions.