Portland Trail Blazers vs OKC Thunder Prediction and Betting Tips - Jan 31 | 2025-26 NBA Season

2 hours ago 4

The Portland Trail Blazers will open a three-game road trip in Oklahoma City on Wednesday for a matchup against the OKC Thunder. Portland looks for another titanic upset and ends the season series with a 2-2 record against the defending champs. The Blazers hope to overcome the absence of Jrue Holiday (calf), Scoot Henderson (hamstring), Jerami Grant (Achilles), Matisse Thybulle (thumb) and Blake Wesley (foot).

Meanwhile, the Thunder want to cap off their disappointing December with a win against a team that handed them their first loss of the season. OKC, which entered December with a 19-1 record, is 7-4 in December. The Thunder will not have Jaylin Williams (heel), Isaiah Hartenstein (soleus), Thomas Sorber (ACL) and Nikola Topic (surgery recovery).

•

Portland Trail Blazers vs OKC Thunder Preview, Predicted Starting Lineups, Betting Tips and Prediction

Moneyline: Blazers (+750) vs. Thunder (-1100)

Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.

Odds: Blazers (+15.5 -108) vs. Thunder (-15.5 -112)

Total (O/U): Blazers (o232.5 -111) vs. Thunder (u232.5 -110)

Editor’s Note: The odds could change closer to the game.

Portland Trail Blazers vs OKC Thunder preview

When the Blazers pulled off arguably the biggest upset early in the season, they did it by showing resilience and grit. They went down 41-21 after one quarter, but did not quit. Portland would likely need to have the same never-say-die attitude, particularly due to its injury-riddled lineup.

Blazers interim coach Tiago Splitter will lean more on Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan and Shaedon Sharpe. Portland has nothing to lose, so it remains a dangerous opponent if the Thunder get complacent.

The Thunder know that complacency will get them in trouble against the Blazers. In their last meeting in late November, Oklahoma City did not control the game until midway through the fourth quarter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. won 123-115, but they needed to play with poise and make clutch plays on both ends.

The defending champs are heavy favorites, but they have to execute well against a hard-fighting team.

Portland Trail Blazers vs OKC Thunder predicted starting lineups

Blazers

PG: Sidy Cissoko | SG: Shaedon Sharpe | SF: Deni Avdija | PF: Toumani Camara | C: Donovan Clingan

Thunder

PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | SG: Cason Wallace | SG: Luguentz Dort | SF: Jalen Williams | PF: Chet Holmgren

Portland Trail Blazers vs OKC Thunder betting tips

Deni Avdija is averaging 26.3 points in his last four games on 48.1% shooting. However, against the Thunder in three games this season, he has averaged 22.7 ppg on just 31.9% efficiency. The NBA’s best defense likely keeps him from topping his 24.5 (O/U) points prop.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has relished playing against the Thunder this season. The reigning MVP is averaging 32.7 ppg on 52.7% efficiency, including 45.5% from deep. Expect SGA to top his 31.5 (O/U) points prop against the hobbled Blazers.