Gilgeous-Alexander scores 37 points to lead Thunder Blazers to revenge

Gilgeous Alexander made 13 of 18 attempts from the field and made all nine free throws.

Ajay Mitchell scored 20 points on 8-for-8 shooting as the defending champion Thunder won their ninth straight after a 121-119 loss in Portland on Nov. 5. They improved to an NBA-best 17-1 and are 85-15 since the start of last season.

Despite the minor injuries, the rolling continues. They are still waiting for 2025 All-Star Jalen Williams to return from wrist surgery, and key reserve Aaron Wigan missed the game with a strained left thigh. Still, Oklahoma City’s average scoring margin during its winning streak is 22.3 points, with a 13-point margin as the closest result.

Jeremy Grant led Portland with 21 points. Deni Avdija, who led the Trail Blazers with 26 points the first time the teams met, finished with 11 points on 4-16 shooting in the rematch.

Portland guards Shadon Sharp and Jrue Holiday were both out with right calf strains. Sharp is the team’s second leading scorer and Holliday is one of the team’s best premiership defenders.

Gilges-Alexander scored 17 points in the first quarter to help the Thunder take a 39-18 lead.

In the second quarter, Oklahoma City’s Mitchell drove to Hope before Portland’s Ryan Rupert hit him in the head while going for a block. The Thunder ran down to save Mitchell and Oklahoma City’s Isaiah Hartenstein was called for a technical to escalate the situation. Mitchell made the second of two free throws on a shooting foul, then made a floater to put the Thunder up 49-25.

Gilges-Alexander’s layup in the closing seconds of the first half brought his total to 28 points and gave the Thunder a 67-46 lead at the break. The game was never close in the second half.

The teams meet again next Sunday in Portland.

Trail Blazers: Monday night at Milwaukee.

Thunder: Host Minnesota on Wednesday night.