NBA Notes: Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Blazers, Sixers, Joel Embiid

Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put on another masterclass Sunday, leading the Thunder to a 118-108 road win over the Trail Blazers. The MVP favorite was his usual self, finishing with 35 points, three steals, and a perfect 9-of-9 from the free-throw line.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder, Alex Caruso, NBA

It marked his 12th game of the season with at least 30 points and three steals, the most in the NBA.

Despite shooting just under 50% in the paint, Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to control the game down the stretch proved vital. With Portland mounting a late charge, cutting a 19-point deficit to six, SGA made his most important play.

He threaded a bounce pass to Isaiah Hartenstein for a dunk, then hit a heady floater to extend the lead. The game was essentially over, thanks to his poise.

Jalen Williams also came up clutch, contributing 24 points, eight assists, and a crucial block in the fourth quarter.

  • The real story, though, was the return of Hartenstein, who hadn’t played since January 14 due to a calf strain. He wasted no time making an impact with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. His passing and rebounding were invaluable, especially in a game where OKC’s offense hit some bumps.

Trail Blazers

The Blazers seemed to believe their loss to the Thunder wasn’t a total waste of time. They learned some lessons in having their four-game win streak snapped.

“I thought we hung in there,” coach Chauncey Billups said, via Aaron Fentress of the Oregonian. “We played hard. We played well. We played pretty much even with them for three quarters.”

Despite the loss, the Blazers’ defensive improvement during their streak, which included a league-best defensive rating of 99.2, was evident.

The Thunder, however, proved too much. With the best record in the league, they dominated in nearly every category, outscoring Portland in points in the paint (52-22), turnovers (8-15), and second-chance points (28-13).

Billups acknowledged the challenge in defending Oklahoma City’s attack, especially their ability to drive and kick.

“That’s everybody’s problem,” he said. “They’re the best in the league at it.”

Portland did manage to keep the game competitive thanks to some strong individual performances. Toumani Camara set a career-high with 24 points, Deni Avdija posted season-highs with 28 points and eight assists, and Scoot Henderson added 25 points off the bench. But despite their shooting (45% from three), the Blazers’ inability to stop the Thunder’s inside game proved decisive.

“It’s the first seed in the West,” Avdija said. “A great team. I feel like we did a lot of great things. We’ve been playing better… and you can just see how we’re growing individually and as a team.”

76ers

The 76ers have no intention of trading Joel Embiid despite his ongoing injury struggles, as we relayed here.

“We’re still really happy with Joel,” said Sixers majority owner Josh Harris. “He’s a warrior. I’ve seen this. He’s fought through a lot of injuries.”

Harris reflected on Embiid’s journey, noting his resilience after missing much of his first two seasons and later battling through injuries to become an MVP.

Embiid, who has only played 13 games this season due to a left knee injury, is receiving extensive care and attention.

Harris expressed confidence in the star’s ability to recover, saying, “He’s super-smart and very in-tune with his body.” He also highlighted the strong support system around Embiid, with a dedicated team ensuring he gets the best treatment and advice.

“I’m hopeful and optimistic that we’ll get through,” Harris added, emphasizing his belief in Embiid’s determination and work ethic.

The Sixers are focused on helping the big man return to full health, with Harris confident that once Embiid is back on the court, things will fall into place. For now, the plan is to support him through this tough stretch.

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