Trail Blazers Beat the Thunder Again, 118-108, to Finish a Two-Night Sweep in Portland

By The Arena Staff

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 12, 2026 — For years the Oklahoma City Thunder have treated Portland like a scheduled win. This week the Trail Blazers flipped it, twice in two nights.

Deni Avdija scored 28 points, Damian Lillard took over the closing minutes and Portland beat Oklahoma City 118-108 on Wednesday night to finish a two-game sweep at Moda Center, the AP reported. The Blazers had lost 19 of 20 to the Thunder before this week, according to Field Level Media, and won the first game 123-103 on Tuesday.

This one looked like it was getting away from Portland early in the fourth quarter. The Thunder trailed by 12 in the third, then Nique Clifford hit a tying 3-pointer and Kenrich Williams scored off a loose ball to give Oklahoma City its first lead since the first half. Williams' free throws capped a 9-0 run that made it 92-88 with 9:58 left.

That's when Portland's two stars took it back. Avdija and Lillard scored 20 of the Blazers' 30 fourth-quarter points, per the AP, and Portland went 14 for 14 at the line in the period. Avdija's free throws put the Blazers ahead to stay with 5:24 left, his 3-pointer made it 106-100, and Lillard followed with a floater and a driving layup. Avdija sealed it with a steal and a dunk for a 116-106 lead with 36.5 seconds left. Lillard heard "MVP" chants at the free-throw line in the final minute, Sports Illustrated reported.

Jrue Holiday made five 3-pointers and scored 19 off the bench, Sidy Cissoko added 19 and Lillard finished with 18. Donovan Clingan grabbed 12 rebounds.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 31 points, 23 of them in the second half, but he went 0 for 7 from 3-point range and did most of his damage at the line, where he made 13 of 14. Isaiah Hartenstein had a season-best 20 points with 11 rebounds and six assists. The Thunder shot 42% and made 11 of 36 3-pointers, and they were again shorthanded, with Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace among the inactives, according to the NBA.com box score.

Oklahoma City fell to 8-4 and Portland improved to 8-3. "I liked that the last two games, the fourth quarter, we've found our defense," Blazers coach Micah Nori said, per SI. The Thunder visit the Clippers on Friday, and Portland plays at Sacramento.

Sourcing: AP via CBS Sports, Field Level Media via KMJ, Sports Illustrated and the NBA.com box score.