The Portland Trail Blazers franchise has given up on the season, but the players they put on the court have not thrown in the towel on at least trying to win.
The Blazers, minus four starters, put forth a much better showing against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday than they did during Friday’s lopsided loss to the Chicago Bulls but in the end still came up short, losing 118-112.
But the effort certainly was there against a Thunder team that is now 4-0 against the Blazers this season and needed this win. How the team rebounded from its 124-96 loss to the Bulls fit what Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said he wants to see from his team during the final two weeks of the season.
“For us, I just keep preaching how we want to play,” Billups said. “We want to try and play fast. We want to try to share the ball. We want to talk and be physical and very competitive, defensively. I thought our guys did that the entire game. Even times when we were down, we never let off the gas. And whoever I put in the game, they came in and scrapped. As a coach, that’s what you want. You want your guys to go out there and try to do what you’re asking them to do.”
Shaedon Sharpe scored a career-high 29 points on 9-of-13 shooting while also making 3 of 5 three-pointers. Nassir Little scored 28 points to lead a bench crew that produced 59 points, more than twice the normal output.
The Blazers began the game red hot, shooting 70% from the field to go up 37-25. But that didn’t last long. The Blazers shot 33.3% in the second quarter, while the Thunder made 6 of 13 threes and took advantage of six Blazers turnovers by converting them into 11 points. The result was a 43-25 quarter for the Thunder, who took a 68-62 lead into halftime.
In the third quarter, the Thunder seemingly took control of the game for a brief moment, but the Blazers remained close and even held the lead early in the fourth quarter. But in the final minutes, the Thunder’s defense tightened, the Blazers became sloppier and the game slipped away.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 31 points. He made 9 of 17 shots and hit 13 of 15 free throws.
“I thought we made Shai really work for his 31 tonight,” Billups said. “He got on the line. That’s just what he does. He’s crafty and he does that. But for the most part, we did a good job on him, loading up, but they had other guys play well.”
Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons, right, dunks over Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Sunday, March 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer) APAP
Jalen Williams scored 23 for the Thunder and Isaiah Joe came off the bench for 20 while hitting 5 of 10 threes.
“I don’t think they showed Isaiah Joe enough respect,” Billups said.
Defending Gilgeous-Alexander much of the night was Sharpe, who Billups said did a solid job on the Thunder’s All-Star. The 19-year-old’s strength, Billups said, helped him on Sunday.
“Shaedon is really strong,” Billups said. “So, he’s able to play defense without using his hands … But he actually has the type of physique that allows him to play defense with his chest a lot of times and body guys up.”
Sharpe, who defended the Bulls’ Zach LaVine on Friday, said he is all for taking on the opposing team’s best offensive players and has benefitted from learning how to study his opponents.
“I feel like it all comes down to film,” Sharpe said. “We do a lot of film behind the scenes, so I feel like it all comes down to film and just knowing what guys like to do and how they like to play.”
WHAT IT MEANS
The Blazers (32-42), who have given up on reaching the playoffs and have the sixth-worst record in the NBA, fell to just a half game ahead of Orlando, owners of the fifth-worst record. The Magic (32-43) won 119-106 over Brooklyn (40-35). As for the Thunder (37-38), they strengthened their position in the race for a play-in berth.
TRENDON WATFORD
Watford left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury and did not return.
NEXT UP
The Blazers host the New Orleans Pelicans (37-37) at 7 p.m. Monday.
— Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook). Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts
