Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder bounced again from their Thursday night time loss to the Dallas Mavericks by beating the Portland Path Blazers 118-108 on Sunday January 26. The match too marked the return of Isaiah Hartenstein to courtroom After lacking the Thunder’s earlier 5 video games.
Thunder MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander powered the workforce with a powerful 35-point outing, including 5 rebounds and an help to his stat line.
Isaiah Hartenstein’s ideas on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
“We’ve got an MVP participant taking part in massive protection tonight. He leads the league in guard blocks. He is making a fuss. He’s a workforce man,” Hartenstein mentioned once we speak about Gilgeous-Alexander after the match.
Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 32.1 factors, 6.0 assists, 5.3 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per recreation whereas taking pictures a powerful 52.8% from the sector. His excessive profitable influence solidified him as a real recreation changer this season.
A middle has received the NBA MVP award for 4 straight seasons, with Jokic profitable 3 times and Joel Embiid as soon as. Including to Antetokounmpo’s consecutive wins earlier than that, a FrontCourt participant has earned the dignity yearly since 2019.
For Gilgeous-Alexander, attaining this feat throughout the 2024-25 season could be much more exceptional as a guard. He has already claimed Western Convention Participant of the Month honors this season, profitable the award for October and November mixed, in addition to for December.
The Thunder dismantles the Pioneers
Jalen Williams additionally contributed 24 factors, 5 rebounds and eight assists, whereas Isaiah Joe added 16 factors, 4 rebounds and an help to assist the Western Convention leaders bounce again from their latest loss.
“We’ve got an All-Star in Dub, who to me might be some of the underrated defenders within the league,” Isaiah Hartenstein added of Jalen Williams.
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In his return, Hartenstein had 14 factors, grabbed 11 rebounds and had six assists in 33 minutes of motion.
The 26-year-old is averaging 11.8 factors, 12.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and a pair of.2 actions per recreation over 24 video games for the workforce within the present season.
Hartenstein notched his sixteenth double-double in 25 video games this season because the Thunder shot 47.2% from the sector and 33.3% (10 of 30) from past the arc.
Deni Avdija delivered a powerful efficiency with 28 factors, eight assists and 7 rebounds for Portland. The workforce made a push within the last interval, narrowing the hole to 93-88 after Fernee Simons’ free throws. Nonetheless, the Thunder responded with a three-pointer from Williams to increase the result in 96-88, adopted by a three-pointer from Alex Caruso that prolonged the rating to 105-90.
15 consecutive losses in opposition to the Thunder
Portland linked on 45% of their three-point makes an attempt (18 of 40) however was dominated within the paint, being outscored 52-22. The Trailblazers have now misplaced 15 straight video games to Oklahoma Metropolis, together with all three video games this season.
Rookie middle Donovan Clinngan, who has handled accidents all through the season, returned Friday night time in a victory over the Charlotte Hornets, contributing 13 rebounds and 4 blocks.
The Thunder lead the NBA in steals for the second straight season, a feat coach Mark Daigneault credit the defensive talent of their finest gamers relatively than his coach. “At our degree, it’s the standard of the defensive personnel,” defined Daignault.
