Josh Giddey helped NBA players Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams defeat the Portland Trail Blazers, showcasing his skill set once again.
On Wednesday, the Thunder defeated the Trail Blazers 128–120 after withstanding a late comeback.
Williams scored 31 points and Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 to lead the team to victory. Giddey and Chet Holmgren, who finished with a season-high 14 rebounds and 21 points, more than adequately supported them.
The gifted Boomer finished the game with 17 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds in 32 minutes of play.
He faced up against two other Australians, Matisse Thybulle and Duop Reath, who each scored sixteen points.
Anfernee Simons (with 29 points) and Jerami Grant (20 points) led the injured Trail Blazers, who are severely shorthanded.
After a layup by Simons, Portland was able to cut the deficit to 112-107, and with 4:05 remaining, Thybulle’s 3-pointer pulled the Blazers within two.
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However, Williams’ 3-pointer to close out the threat put the score 116–110.
Grant (right quad) and Thybulle (left hip), who both missed Portland’s 119-114 loss to Minnesota on Monday, made their way back to the team.
Center Prior to the game, Deandre Ayton (right wrist sprain) and Toumani Camara (illness) were declared out.
After spraining his left foot, rookie Scoot Henderson of the Blazers is improving and should be back by the weekend, according to coach Chauncey Billups.
The Thunder were coming off of a 116-104 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night, only their second defeat in nine games. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with just 20 points, snapping his eight-game 30-point run.
Oklahoma City was only one and a half games behind Minnesota, the leaders of the Western Conference, going into the game at Portland.
Williams’ layup gave the Thunder a 51-35 lead in the first half, but Portland closed the gap to 65-57 at the break. At halftime, Holmgren and Gilgeous-Alexander tied for the lead with 16 points apiece.
In the second quarter, there was a terrifying moment when Bismack Biyombo of Oklahoma City seemed to fall on the bench.
It wasn’t evident right away if Biyombo was hurt. During a timeout, the squad moved to the sidelines, and the 13-year NBA veteran fell. They assisted him into the locker room and off the court.
Even though Biyombo did not come back, the Thunder claimed it was not a significant medical ailment.
Late in the third quarter, Simons made a 3-pointer and Grant dribbled the ball to bring the Blazers within 88-86. However, the Thunder responded with a 10-0 run to take a 97-87 lead into the fourth quarter.
The final game of the Thunder’s four-game road trip was their matchup with Portland.
In other games, Atlanta defeated Cleveland 112-101, the Orlando Magic defeated the Washington Wizards 119-109 on the road, and the 76ers lost to the Grizzlies 115-109 at home.
The Chicago Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz 119-117, the LA Clippers defeated the Houston Rockets 122-116 on the road, and Golden State crushed Milwaukee 125-90.
Wednesday’s action ended with Sacramento defeating the LA Lakers 130-120, led by 44 points from De’Aaron Fox.
