Portland Trail Blazers vs Oklahoma City Thunder Picks and Predictions November 1st 2024

Trail Blazers vs Thunder November 1st 2024

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 11-point favorites on the road against the Portland Trail Blazers. The over/under line is set at 220 points. The Thunder are 4-0 on the season, while the Blazers are 2-3.

This division matchup between the Thunder and Blazers will tip-off at 10:00 ET from the Moda Center. The game can be seen on KATU.

Thunder vs. Trail Blazers Key Information

The Thunder improved to 4-0 on the season with a 105-93 win over the Spurs on Wednesday. Playing at home, Oklahoma City was favored by 12.5 points but narrowly missed covering the spread. The game’s total points of 198 fell well short of the 220.5-point over/under line.

A key moment came when the Thunder went on a 13-0 run, breaking a 10-10 tie and taking a 23-10 lead. They outscored the Spurs 33-25 in the 2nd quarter and led 82-70 going into the 4th, where both teams scored 23 points.

Luguentz Dort knocked down 6 threes at a 75% clip, leading the Thunder with 20 points in their win over the Spurs. Chet Holmgren added 19 points, hitting all 3 of his attempts from deep, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 18 points despite shooting just 35% from the field.

Oklahoma City made 17 threes as a team, shooting 41.5% from beyond the arc, though their overall field goal percentage was 46.1%. Dort scored 6 points in both the 2nd and 3rd quarters, while Holmgren added 9 of his points in the 2nd period.

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The Thunder put together a strong defensive performance on Wednesday, holding the Spurs to just 93 points. Oklahoma City limited San Antonio to 19 points in the 1st quarter and gave up 26 points or fewer in each quarter.

Overall, the Thunder held the Spurs to 41% shooting from the field, including 33% from three-point range, where San Antonio made 12 threes. The Thunder also sent the Spurs to the free-throw line 13 times, where they made 11. Oklahoma City finished with 18 steals and 6 blocks.

The Trail Blazers improved to 2-3 this season with a 106-105 win over the Clippers on Wednesday. Portland, who entered the game as +8 point underdogs, not only secured the win but also covered the spread. The total points for the game finished at 211, falling short of the 219-point over/under line.

Portland went on a 12-0 run, stretching their lead from 38-34 to 50-34. After the Clippers rallied in the 3rd quarter, outscoring the Blazers 35-28, Portland clamped down defensively in the 4th, holding the Clippers to 20 points while scoring 24 to close out the game.

The Thunder’s offense in their win over the Spurs was highlighted by Luguentz Dort’s 20 points, as he connected on 6 threes, shooting 75% from deep. Chet Holmgren added 19 points, hitting 3 threes at 100% efficiency, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 18 points, despite shooting just 35% from the field and 20% from three.

As a team, the Thunder made 17 threes, shooting 41.5% from beyond the arc, while their overall field goal percentage was 46.1%. Dort scored 6 points in both the 2nd and 3rd quarters, while Holmgren added 9 of his points in the 2nd period.

Portland’s defense came through in the 4th quarter, giving up just 20 points to help secure a 106-105 win over the Clippers. They allowed 105 points overall, with their toughest stretch in the 3rd quarter, where they gave up 35 points. The Trail Blazers held the Clippers to 13 made threes on 36% shooting from beyond the arc.

Portland sent the Clippers to the line 18 times, where they made 10 free throws. The Trail Blazers finished with 35 defensive rebounds, while giving up 13 offensive boards. They also added 9 steals and 6 blocks in the game.

Entering the game as underdogs with a spread of +11, the Trail Blazers is our point spread pick. Our projections not only see them covering the spread but also indicate a solid chance of an outright victory. This is a good choice for those looking for a higher moneyline payout.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 220, and our model predicts the Thunder and Trail Blazers to score a combined 268 points. We recommend betting on the over.

Thunder Look to Extend Dominance Over Trail Blazers for 13th Straight Win

The Oklahoma City Thunder are rolling into Portland with momentum, aiming to extend their winning streak over the Trail Blazers to 13 games. Oklahoma City has had Portland’s number in recent seasons, including a historic 62-point victory over them in January, marking one of the largest margins of victory in NBA history.

Thunder’s Recent Dominance Over the Blazers

The Thunder’s 139-77 win on January 11 stands as a stark example of Oklahoma City’s dominance over Portland, tying for the fifth-largest defeat in NBA history and marking the second-worst loss in Trail Blazers’ history. In that game, Portland managed only 27.7 percent shooting from the field, a stat that highlighted Oklahoma City’s defensive and offensive dominance.

Oklahoma City’s control over this matchup hasn’t been limited to a single game. The Thunder also earned a 134-91 victory in Portland last November, adding another one-sided result to their four-game season sweep of the Trail Blazers. Portland’s last victory against Oklahoma City came in April 2021, back when Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum headlined their backcourt—a reminder of how much the Trail Blazers have changed since.

The Thunder’s Hot Start to the Season

Oklahoma City’s impressive form has carried over into the current season. The Thunder have won their first four games, with an average winning margin of 17.5 points, making them the only undefeated team in the Western Conference. The team’s recent 105-93 home victory over the San Antonio Spurs further solidified their position, with Chet Holmgren, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jalen Williams all contributing strong performances.

Holmgren has been a standout for Oklahoma City, and he notably outplayed San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama in their most recent matchup. Holmgren posted 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting, while Wembanyama was held to six points on just 1-of-5 shooting. Despite the media hype surrounding the matchup, Holmgren remained unfazed, viewing it as business as usual for the Thunder.

“Because the NBA is a business, and the league has been built around players playing basketball,” Holmgren said. “It’s about getting people to come and watch the games. That’s one of the ways they do it: by advertising the players. I just see it as a form of advertisement. It doesn’t change what our mission is. We’re trying to win the basketball games.”

Holmgren is currently averaging an impressive 22.5 points, 11 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game, showing his impact on both ends of the court. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has also been crucial, leading the team with 26 points per game, along with solid contributions in rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. Jalen Williams has rounded out the trio with strong all-around numbers, averaging 17 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.

Trail Blazers Seek to Build on Momentum

The Trail Blazers, meanwhile, are trying to shake off recent challenges and build momentum. Portland heads into the game with a bit of confidence, coming off a narrow 106-105 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. Anfernee Simons led the way with 25 points, including his third 20-point game of the season. Simons, averaging 20.6 points per game, has taken up the role of the team’s primary scorer, and he’s been instrumental in setting the tone for the offense.

Portland’s success against the Clippers also featured a strong defensive effort, with Deandre Ayton making a critical steal in the game’s closing moments. Ayton has been a steady force for the Trail Blazers, starting the season with five consecutive double-doubles. Simons praised Ayton’s intensity and energy on the court:

“When D.A. is playing like that, it helps us out so much,” Simons said. “He was playing with a lot of energy, rolling to the basket and getting easy putbacks off misses and that’s what we need from him every night.”

However, Portland has also faced some struggles. Forward Jerami Grant has struggled over the past two games, averaging only 7.5 points on poor shooting percentages, a significant drop from his early-season average of 26 points per game. The Trail Blazers will need a stronger performance from Grant to have a chance against an in-form Thunder squad.

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Key Matchup and Road Ahead

This game marks the first of a back-to-back road trip for Oklahoma City, with the team set to face the Los Angeles Clippers the following night. For Portland, a victory would not only snap their losing streak against Oklahoma City but could provide much-needed confidence moving forward. The Thunder, however, aim to maintain their undefeated start and keep their strong form rolling as they continue to assert themselves as a force in the Western Conference.