The Portland Trail Blazers will welcome the NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder to the Moda Center in Portland tonight. The Thunder have yet to lose a game during the 2025-26 season. The Blazers are eager
to make up for a loss on Monday night to the Los Angeles Lakers. Will they be able to pull it off? Here’s what you need to know about the game.
How to Watch
Portland Trail Blazers (4-3) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (8-0)
– Wednesday, November 5 – 7:00pm PacificHow to watch via antenna or cable: See your options on the Rip City Television Network
How to watch via streaming: BlazerVision in Oregon and Washington; League Pass everywhere else.
How to listen: Trail Blazers Audio Network
Trail Blazers injuries: Scoot Henderson, Damian Lillard, Matisse Thybulle, Blake Wesley, Out;
Thunder injuries: Thomas Sorber, Nikola Topic, Jalen Williams, Kenrich Williams Out
Background
With an 8-0 record, OKC is the league’s only remaining undefeated team. The Thunder survived consecutive double overtime games to start the season and has picked up momentum from there.
The Thunder enters Moda Center on the second night of a back-to-back. They face a Blazers squad which lost focus and shot poorly from three in a Monday night loss to the injury depleted Lakers. The last time the Blazers beat the Thunder in Portland was April 2021.
What to Watch For:
Accountability. Multiple Blazers took ownership for Monday night’s loss to the Lakers. After years of tanking, it’s a breath of fresh air. The champs will be a much tougher assignment than those two-way players in purple and gold. Who will set the tone for the home team?
Feats of Strength. A Blazers victory wouldn’t exactly be the Slam Heard ‘Round the World. But, it would require maximum effort and more than a little luck.
It’s Shai’s World. The reigning MVP picked up right where he left off. He leads the league in total points scored.
The All Scraggly Team. Bill Walton once said, “You have to understand, my beard is so nasty. I mean, it’s the only beard in the history of Western civilization that makes Bob Dylan’s beard look good.” Alex Caruso’s whiskers are now officially approaching this elite realm.
What People Are Saying:
Next Man Up. Acting head coach, Tiago Splitter told his team they must play harder in the wake of Blake Wesley’s foot injury:
“He brings energy and it’s contagious. I told the guys, ‘We cannot wait for Blake now to come in and just fire everything. Everybody’s got to be better and bring it.’”
Thievery Corporation. The Blazers lead the league with 12.7 steals per game. OKC ranks second with 10.7 steals per game. Thunder guard, Jalen Williams, recently underwent a second surgery on the wrist he injured in the playoffs. Playing in his place, Cason Wallace is the individual league leader in steals, averaging three takeaways per game. Thunder coach, Mark Daigneault says that’s a reflection of Thunder culture:
Iron Sharpens Iron. Last year’s Thunder also started the season 7-0 before posting a 68-14 regular season record and winning the championship. Reigning NBA MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, says he thinks this year’s team came back even stronger.
“But I do think he’s gotten a little more intentional about his study, and about learning the nuances of the game. I think Dort and Caruso have probably helped him with that to a degree. Those guys are pretty tight.”
If You Go:
Hope Chinese Charter School’s middle school dance team will perform a dragon dance before the game.
