Portland Overcomes 22-Point Deficit to Hand OKC First Loss

On November 5, 2025, at the Moda Center, the Portland Trail Blazers erased a 22-point deficit to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-119, handing the champions their first loss of the NBA season.

The 22-Point Swing That Stunned the Champions

Oklahoma City arrived in Portland sporting an 8-0 record as the league’s last remaining unbeaten team. The early minutes of the game offered no hint of a collapse, with the Thunder surging to a 41-21 lead after the first quarter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished the night with 35 points and 9 rebounds. Aaron Wiggins added 27 points, shooting seven three-pointers as the visitors stretched their advantage to 22 points. But Portland steadily chipped away, outscoring the visitors 36 points in the second quarter alone to narrow the gap to 86-81 heading into the final twelve minutes.

Deni Avdija and Jrue Holiday Ignite the Comeback

Deni Avdija endured a frigid start, missing his first ten field goal attempts before finally converting with 38 seconds remaining in the third quarter. That breakthrough sparked a near triple-double performance as the forward finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists. With the Thunder struggling to match Portland’s second-half pace, Jrue Holiday seized control. Holiday drained a jumper to put the Blazers ahead 97-96 with 6 minutes and 44 seconds left on the clock, then followed with a deep three-pointer to extend the lead. Holiday posted 22 points and six three-pointers, while Jerami Grant contributed 20 points off the bench, Shaedon Sharpe added 18, and Toumani Camara chipped in 16.

A Frantic Finish and the End of a Sixteen-Game Skid

Portland built a nine-point cushion down the stretch before Oklahoma City made one final push. Trailing 121-118 with 0.5 seconds remaining, Isaiah Joe drew a foul on a three-point attempt. Video review showed Joe’s foot touched the three-point line, converting the potential game-tying triple into two free throws. Joe made the first and intentionally missed the second, but the Thunder failed to corral the rebound, sealing the 121-119 final score. The victory snapped Portland’s 16-game losing streak against Oklahoma City, marking the Blazers’ first head-to-head win over the Thunder since 2022.