PORTLAND, OR — Cell service can be spotty in Portland. It’s the price to pay for the scenic city, which is surrounded by mountains and trees.
Maybe that’s why OKC, whose players have as strong of a connection as any in the NBA, has experienced some issues when visiting. After suffering a narrow road loss to the Trail Blazers on Nov. 5, the Thunder found itself in another close contest during Sunday’s rematch.
OKC trailed at halftime. Then it trailed entering the fourth quarter. And for a brief moment, it seemed like Portland truly had the reigning champion’s number. But with the game on the line, the Thunder answered the call.
It received timely defensive plays from Jalen Williams, who shined on that end despite his rusty shooting. It received big-time shots from Ajay Mitchell, who made his presence known after a quiet start. And it received a closing clinic from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who emoted after every video-game-like bucket.
All of that helped OKC walk out of Portland with a 123-115 win. It marked the third straight single-digit victory for the Thunder (20-1), which has shown an ability to also win close games despite boasting the largest average point differential in NBA history (15.5).
“We never take a win for granted,” Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said. “Every game presents different challenges. Tonight, it was generating our own energy, fighting through kind of a muddy start and staying with the game even though it wasn’t a perfect game. … A lot of guys showed individual resilience, and then collectively we showed the mental toughness to just stay with the game and let the game turn for us.”
OKC managed to avoid the rain in Portland, which is known for its persistent precipitation. And yet it still found itself in a muddy game, as Daigneault put it.
Finding a rhythm was difficult, especially with all of the stoppages. There were so many whistles that it practically negated the early Sunday start time, as both teams combined for 51 personal fouls and 69 free-throw attempts.
“I would’ve loved to not have fouled as much throughout the game as a team,” Williams said. “But it’s good to have games like that. Those are what prepare you for later on in the season. When you can find a way to win even through ugly games, it’s a sign of a pretty good team.”
For Williams, that way was on defense. The star forward only scored 16 points on 7-for-18 shooting (38.9%) in what marked his second game back from a nagging right shooting wrist injury, but he sparked OKC’s 8-0 run to start the fourth quarter.
After sprinting on a closeout to contest Jerami Grant’s 3-pointer at the top of the arc, Williams never stopped running. He raced up the floor, and Mitchell snagged the defensive board from Grant’s miss before finding Williams for a leak-out dunk.
Opposing players have only shot 4 for 13 (30.8%) from the field when guarded by Williams this season. That’s a lower percentage than Williams himself (33.3%), who couldn’t shoot properly with his dominant hand for the past five months after undergoing surgery in July.
“I always have that chip on my shoulder defensively,” said Williams, who recorded three blocks to go along with his 16 points and eight boards. “I think I’m one of the best defenders in the NBA, just being able to do a lot. (Defense) just gets me into more of a flow until I get back to like normal offensive stuff. Defense is also very fun for me. I like playing defense.”
Many people questioned what the return of Williams would mean for Mitchell, who’s enjoying a strong sophomore season.
Would he still be able to run the second unit, a role Williams usually handles? Would he be as effective in an off-ball role? Would his minutes decline as OKC neared full strength?
None of that uncertainty bothered Mitchell, who had an answer every time OKC needed someone to make a play during its late push. He scored 11 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter and closed out the game alongside the Thunder’s Big Three.
“Every guy has their own individual style of play,” Daigneault said. “Who’s out there with Ajay shouldn’t impact how Ajay plays. He’s got to go out there, execute the fundamentals and play his game. And that’s true of every player on the team. That doesn’t change based on who you’re out there with. It should all fit together if everybody is fundamentally sound and playing to their strengths.”
Finally, Gilgeous-Alexander showcased one of his biggest strengths: An elite ability to close out games.
The stone-faced superstar broke character with every bucket. After shrugging off Toumani Camara and burying an 11-foot jumper with 1:23 remaining, Gilgeous-Alexander hit the All-Defensive forward with the “too little” celebration. And after delivering the dagger with a 17-foot jumper in the closing seconds, he pointed to the exit, suggesting fans at Moda Center head home.
Much has been made of Gilgeous-Alexander’s tendency to sit for entire fourth quarters. He has done so 11 times this season. But his knack for hitting big-time shots deserves more attention.
Gilgeous-Alexander ranks first in the NBA in total clutch points (80) despite only ranking eighth in total clutch minutes (50.4). He has shot 52.4% from the field during that stretch.
Consistency is a common theme for Gilgeous-Alexander, who also recorded his 93rd consecutive regular-season game with at least 20 points. That ranks second in NBA history, only trailing Wilt Chamberlain (126 games).
“Dang, bro,” Williams said when told about Gilgeous-Alexander’s streak. “That’s pretty insane. I think seeing him work out in the summer, seeing him work tirelessly on his body and his craft, it’s not so much of a shock to me to hear that stat. It’s more just like he works hard enough, and he outworks a lot of the competition.”
With its win on Sunday, OKC became just the fourth team in NBA history to start a season 20-1 or better. It joins the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors, 1993-94 Houston Rockets and 1969-70 New York Knicks.
Those wins have come in different fashions. The Thunder has won blowouts, recording 13 double-digit victories. But it has also gone 8-1 in clutch games, which is defined by the NBA as the score being within five points during the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime.
The latter is especially valuable. The scars from hard-fought battles have given OKC’s players even tougher skin, and their connection is stronger than ever.
“Me personally, I would want to win every game by like 30 if we could,” Mitchell said with a smile. “But there’s a lot to learn in close games. There’s a way to fight through what’s going on, especially when things are not going our way. I think it’s a great opportunity for us to get better as a team and find a way. Those games are very important for us.”
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at jmartinez@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
Thunder at Warriors
TIPOFF: 10 p.m. Tuesday at Chase Center in San Francisco (NBC, FDSN Oklahoma)