Three weeks into the season, Oklahoma City is tied for first in the West, all the more impressive given the injuries that have piled up. The Thunder have won four straight without Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace. SGA is the most unstoppable version of himself, averaging just under 30 on 23.2 field goal attempts, second only to Doncic's 24.3.
OKC is 3-2 on the road, and both losses, to the Rockets and Mavs, came by 20 or more. Tuesday opens a four-game western trip with two straight games in Portland. Three starters remain out.
Portland is 6-3, and their two straight losses have an explanation. On Friday in Los Angeles, they led for much of the game but ultimately Luka Doncic's 53 points were too much and they lost 124-118. Then on Saturday, the second night of a back-to-back, they were run out of the building by the Spurs, and Micah Nori pulled Damian Lillard at 20 minutes and Deni Avdija at 24. Both had two days off and will be looking to right the ship in front of their fans.
The Blazers beat the Thunder here last November, 121-119. Both teams are rested, but it is surprisingly Portland that will be the healthier team. A home team getting points against a visitor missing three starters looks like value. I like the Blazers as a short dog.
Thunder vs Trail Blazers prediction: Trail Blazers +2.5 (-115) available at time of publishing. Playable to 1.5 (-110).
