Thunder at Trail Blazers: Oklahoma City defends its 8-2 start without Jalen Williams or Holmgren

On Oct. 25, in a win over the Clippers, Oklahoma City lost Jalen Williams to a fractured left fibula and dislocated left ankle and Cason Wallace to a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Chet Holmgren began feeling discomfort in his right knee the same day and was later diagnosed with a small patellar tendon tear. Without all three, the Thunder have won four of six and remain among the leaders in the Western Conference. On Tuesday they open back-to-back games at Moda Center against a Trail Blazers side that is 5-1 away from home but just 1-2 in its own building.

• Competition: NBA 2026-27 regular season.
• Game: Oklahoma City Thunder at Portland Trail Blazers (NBA game ID 0022600216).
• Tip-off: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 8 p.m. PT (11 p.m. ET); Wednesday, Nov. 11, 04:00 GMT.
• Venue: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon.
• Schedule note: the same teams meet again in Portland on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. PT.

Gilgeous-Alexander and a rebuilt rotation

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 29.9 points through 10 games for Mark Daigneault, according to the season's box scores, and has made 58 of 68 free throws. He scored 43 and 42 in two wins over Cleveland in early November. Ajay Mitchell, a starter in seven games, has stepped up with 18.9 points per game and a 35-point night in Memphis on Friday, though he has made only 9 of 33 three-point attempts. Jared McCain adds 12.1 points.

With Holmgren out, Daigneault splits the center minutes between Isaiah Hartenstein, who averages 10.1 rebounds, and Aday Mara, who blocks 1.9 shots in under 20 minutes a night and shoots 62.5% from the field. Defense is still the Thunder's calling card: they allow 104.2 points per game, the fewest in the West, and held Washington to 75 in Saturday's 114-75 win.

The injuries were followed by back-to-back losses at Dallas (120-96) and Houston (119-98) before the four-game winning streak that lifted Oklahoma City back to 8-2 and near the top of the West.

Portland travels better than it defends at home

Micah Nori's Blazers, in his first season as head coach, are 6-3 but have lost two straight: 124-118 to the Lakers in Los Angeles and 125-103 to San Antonio at home. Deni Avdija drives the team with 22.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game; Damian Lillard adds 19.4 points and 25 three-pointers. Toumani Camara (13.1 points) has made 28 of 62 from deep, and Jrue Holiday provides 13.0 points and 4.0 assists off the bench.

Donovan Clingan averages 11.9 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocks. Portland scores 119.3 points per game but gives up 113.8, almost 10 more than Oklahoma City.

The Thunder won three of four meetings last season; Portland took the first, 121-119, at Moda Center.

Injury report

The NBA's official injury report issued Monday, Nov. 9, at 8 p.m. ET lists the following for Tuesday's game:

Oklahoma City Thunder

• Jalen Williams: out — left ankle surgery; the team expects to reevaluate him before the end of the regular season.
• Chet Holmgren: out — right knee injury recovery; on Oct. 30 the Thunder projected an eight-to-10-week absence.
• Cason Wallace: out — left shoulder surgery.
• Jaylin Williams: out — lower back spasms.
• Thomas Sorber: out — right knee surgery.
• Nikola Topic: unavailable — on G League assignment.

Portland Trail Blazers

• Ja Morant: out — left hamstring strain; the team said on Oct. 30 he would miss at least four weeks before being reevaluated.
• Shaedon Sharpe: out — right meniscus surgery.
• Vit Krejci: out — left ankle fracture.
• John Tonje: unavailable — G League two-way assignment.

Robert Williams III, who sat out Saturday for rest on the second night of a back-to-back, is not on the report.

Morant was averaging 15.8 points and 5.5 assists in his four games. Since his injury, Scoot Henderson has taken his place in the starting lineup despite shooting 6-for-36 from three this season, and Portland has gone 3-2. For the Thunder, Wallace's absence takes away one of the perimeter defenders Daigneault could have put on Lillard.

What will decide it

Avdija at the free-throw line. Portland's forward has attempted 84 free throws in nine games but made only 56. If Oklahoma City sends him to the line that often, the game moves onto ground where Portland can score without making shots; if Avdija keeps missing, the damage is limited.

Clingan against two centers. Daigneault alternates Hartenstein and Mara. The battle on the offensive glass would shape the possession count for a Portland team that needs pace to offset its defense.

Gilgeous-Alexander's workload. With two games on consecutive nights in the same city, how the Thunder spread minutes on Tuesday would carry into Wednesday. Mitchell and McCain are the options to take some of the playmaking off the Canadian guard.

How to watch Thunder at Trail Blazers

• Venue: Moda Center, Portland.
• Date and time: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 8 p.m. PT (11 p.m. ET); Wednesday, Nov. 11, 04:00 GMT.

United States — Tuesday, Nov. 10, 11 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT

• TV: NBC nationally, according to the NBA's official schedule; the league also lists KSBI in the Oklahoma City market.
• Streaming: Peacock; Thunder+ in the Thunder's local market.

United Kingdom — Wednesday, Nov. 11, 04:00 GMT

• TV and streaming: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+, both listed from 04:00.
• Also available: NBA League Pass.

Australia — Wednesday, Nov. 11, 3 p.m. AEDT (Sydney, Melbourne) / 2 p.m. AEST (Brisbane) / 12 p.m. AWST (Perth)

• Streaming: NBA League Pass.
• TV: broadcast not yet announced.

Portland has two nights to show it can beat a contender at home; Oklahoma City has two nights to test how far its defense can carry a shortened rotation.