Portland Trail Blazers vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 12/31/25

The Oklahoma City Thunder continue to establish themselves as one of the NBA’s most well rounded teams, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging north of 30 points per game while anchoring an offense that can score efficiently without relying solely on pace. Chet Holmgren’s interior presence has elevated OKC’s defensive ceiling, allowing the Thunder to protect the rim and force opponents into tougher half court possessions. While Oklahoma City is capable of pushing tempo, they’ve shown an ability to slow games down when needed, especially against opponents with limited offensive depth. That defensive versatility has been key in keeping several recent matchups from turning into shootouts.

Portland enters this matchup still searching for consistency amid ongoing rotation instability. The Trail Blazers have flashed offensive upside behind young contributors like Deni Avdija and an energetic bench, but injuries and uneven shot creation continue to cap their scoring efficiency. Against elite defenses, Portland often struggles to generate clean looks late in possessions, leading to prolonged scoring droughts. That profile is problematic against a Thunder team that can switch defensively and control the glass. While previous meetings between these teams have featured moments of offensive bursts, the overall flow has leaned toward contested shots and slower late game execution. With Oklahoma City capable of dictating tempo and Portland lacking reliable scoring options, this matchup projects to fall short of the total.

Trail Blazers vs Thunder Prediction: Under 232.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to 231.5