Portland Trail Blazers (28-35, 12th in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (51-11, first in the Western Conference)
Oklahoma City; Friday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Oklahoma City hosts the Portland Trail Blazers after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 41 points in the Oklahoma City Thunder's 120-103 victory against the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Thunder are 30-10 in conference matchups. Oklahoma City has a 40-2 record in games decided by 10 or more points.
The Trail Blazers are 5-8 against opponents in the Northwest Division. Portland is 6-3 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The 119.6 points per game the Thunder average are 5.1 more points than the Trail Blazers allow (114.5). The Trail Blazers are shooting 45.5% from the field, 2.0% higher than the 43.5% the Thunder's opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 32.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.8 steals for the Thunder. Jalen Williams is averaging 22.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.7 assists over the last 10 games.
Shaedon Sharpe is shooting 45.2% and averaging 17.7 points for the Trail Blazers. Anfernee Simons is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 8-2, averaging 127.1 points, 45.2 rebounds, 30.0 assists, 9.1 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.1 points per game.
Trail Blazers: 5-5, averaging 121.1 points, 44.7 rebounds, 27.0 assists, 8.5 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.4 points.
INJURIES: Thunder: Chet Holmgren: day to day (leg), Alex Caruso: day to day (ankle), Nikola Topic: out for season (acl), Ajay Mitchell: out (toe).
Trail Blazers: Deandre Ayton: out (calf), Matisse Thybulle: day to day (ankle), Jerami Grant: day to day (knee), Deni Avdija: day to day (quad), Robert Williams III: day to day (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Associated Press
