The Portland Trail Blazers visit the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, December 31, with tipoff set for 8:00 p.m. ET at Paycom Center. The matchup closes the calendar year for both teams and features clubs trending in opposite directions in the standings.
Portland enters at 14-19 but carries momentum from a two-game winning streak. The Blazers edged Dallas 125-122 on December 29 after defeating Boston 114-108 the previous night.
Oklahoma City owns one of the league’s best records at 28-5 and rides a two-game winning streak. The Thunder beat Atlanta 140-129 on December 29 and handled Philadelphia 129-104 on December 28.
The injury report is a major storyline for Portland, which will be without several high-usage players. Jerami Grant is out with left Achilles tendonitis after averaging 20.0 points per game.
Scoot Henderson remains sidelined with a left hamstring tear, limiting the team’s backcourt creation. Jrue Holiday is also unavailable due to a right calf strain, removing a primary ball-handler and perimeter defender.
Damian Lillard is out for left Achilles tendon injury management. Matisse Thybulle is sidelined with a left thumb ligament tear, while Blake Wesley remains out with a right foot fracture. Kris Murray is listed as questionable with a right quad contusion.
Despite the injuries, Deni Avdija continues to anchor the offense with 25.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game. Shaedon Sharpe also provides scoring punch at 22.1 points per contest.
Oklahoma City’s injury report centers on frontcourt depth. Isaiah Hartenstein is out with a right soleus strain after averaging 10.4 rebounds and 11.2 points in 24 games.
Jaylin Williams is sidelined by right heel bursitis, while Ousmane Dieng remains out with a right calf strain. Several others, including Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber, continue recovery from surgeries.
The Thunder still feature a deep and productive rotation led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He enters the matchup averaging 32.2 points on 55.9 percent shooting.
Chet Holmgren adds rim protection and spacing, while Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell support playmaking on the perimeter.
