Blazers Host Thunder Before Six-Game Road Trip

Portland opens a stretch of home games against Oklahoma City, which is missing key players to injury.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Basketball

Blazers Host Thunder Before Six-Game Road Trip

The Portland Trail Blazers, who opened the 2026-27 NBA regular season 6-1, host the Oklahoma City Thunder for consecutive games before a six-game road trip. Portland has lost consecutive games to the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs.

Why it matters

Portland is 27-44 all-time against Oklahoma City and is on a three-game losing streak against the Thunder, making the home stand a test of its early-season form. For Portland fans, the games are the team's last chance to build momentum before a long stretch away from home.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads Oklahoma City with 29.9 points per game, and the Thunder have the league's best turnover percentage at 10.7 percent. Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace are out for likely the rest of the season.

The players

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers are an NBA franchise based in Portland, Oregon, competing in the Western Conference.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder are an NBA franchise based in Oklahoma City that has been among the league's strongest teams in recent seasons.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder who has emerged as one of the league's top scorers.

Chet Holmgren

Chet Holmgren is a center for the Oklahoma City Thunder whose absence with a patella tendon tear has weakened the team's lineup.

The details

Oklahoma City is listed as depleted by injuries, including Chet Holmgren, who is sidelined with a patella tendon tear. Nikola Topic, Thomas Sorber and Jaylin Williams are listed as day-to-day, and the schedule is expected to get more difficult for Portland.

November 30, 2025: Deni Avdija posted a triple-double of 31 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists in a loss.
2026-27 NBA regular season opening: Portland started the season 6-1.
At least two months: Chet Holmgren is expected to remain sidelined with a patella tendon tear.

Season Trajectory

Oklahoma City's current profile, with league-best turnover control and a top-five defense, continues a pattern of contention built around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. For Portland, a split of these games would shape its position in the Western Conference standings as the schedule grows harder.

Fantasy managers tracking Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can expect his 29.9 points per game to be a key scoring anchor in these matchups. Portland's standings position will depend on how the team handles a stretch of home games before its six-game road trip.

The takeaway

Early-season records can shift quickly when injuries reshape a roster, so teams that manage depth well tend to hold their standing longer. Portland's results against Oklahoma City in this stretch will show whether its 6-1 start is durable.