Oklahoma City Thunder Articles - Page 96

The psychological war between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Portland Trail Blazers is expected to continue, especially after OKC superstar Paul George kind of disrespected their foes. With the game already decided, George decided to launch a double pump dunk in the dying seconds. While it did not count, it was a sign that […]

For the last two games, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard has been outplaying Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook in their best-of-seven first round playoff series. In Game 3, Westbrook tried to turn the tables around. OKC’s All-Star guard wanted to send a message to Lillard and the Blazers that the series is not yet […]

Portland Trail Blazers big man Enes Kanter expects the Oklahoma City Thunder to be “aggressive offensively” in Game 3 on their home floor. Kanter played for the Thunder before, so he knows better than anyone how loud the OKC crowd gets in the playoffs. The Blazers are up 2-0 in the series, so the Thunder […]

It’s not time to panic, but Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder will need to get their act together if they plan on advancing in the Western Conference Playoffs. After Tuesday night’s 114-94 loss, the Thunder find themselves trailing in their first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers by a score of two games […]

After a disappointing playoff series last year for the Oklahoma City Thunder in which Carmelo Anthony and Paul George both had clunkers against the Utah Jazz, this year’s playoffs are off to a similarly rocky start against the Portland Trail Blazers. Russell Westbrook has been close to disastrous to start the series, while Blazers counterpart […]

Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard CJ McCollum says his backcourt mate Damian Lillard and Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook are “two pit bulls” who love to compete for 48 minutes. Lillard and Westbrook have been going at it in the first two games of their first round series. Lillard has gotten the better of […]

Houston Rockets guard James Harden and Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook won the last two MVPs, and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo could win the award this season. So, it’s not a big surprise that these three players have the biggest impact on point spreads among the postseason participants, according to BetOnline.ag. Antetokounmpo, […]

This just might be Damian Lillard’s time. The Portland Trail Blazers’ franchise player established himself in a new way last season, willing his team to the three seed in a loaded Western Conference with a career-best campaign culminating in an unlikely First Team All-NBA selection. One problem: Portland was embarrassed in the playoffs, swept out […]

The Portland Trail Blazers have rebounded from a first-round sweep last season, winning their first two playoff games at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder. After surviving with a five-point win over the weekend, the Blazers made a statement on Tuesday with a 20-point victory, led by Terry Stotts’ heavy dose of Damian Lillard and […]

On Wednesday afternoon, the Oklahoma City Thunder officially announced that shooting guard Hamidou Diallo will be out of commission for roughly four weeks after undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on his right elbow. Via NBA.com: Oklahoma City Thunder guard Hamidou Diallo underwent a successful arthroscopic procedure on his right elbow today, Thunder Executive Vice President and […]

Portland Trail Blazers big man Enes Kanter is expected to play in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Turkish center suffered a hand contusion in the first half of Game 2, but it doesn’t appear to be serious: Kanter hampered by hand injury #ripcity pic.twitter.com/ZqNUp9TNgD — NBC Sports […]

Basketball Hall of Famer and current NBA on TNT anchor Charles Barkley was not a fan of Oklahoma City Thunder Steven Adams’ hard pick on Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard on Tuesday night. Barkley seemed to take exception of the stonewall screen, and even went as far as labeling Adams’ antics as “bush […]

Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams had no regrets about a brutal screen he set on Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard during Game 2 of a first-round playoff game on Tuesday. Steven Adams crushed Lillard with this screen pic.twitter.com/pb04AV61QK — Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) April 17, 2019 Adams is known as one of […]

How can a player average three straight triple-double seasons and still be called a ball hog? How does a player remain loyal to his original team when so many others are forming “super teams” and still be called selfish? How does a player put a team and a city on his back, never complains, and managed […]

The Portland Trail Blazers have one of the best backcourts in the NBA in Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Rip City’s star tandem showed exactly why on Tuesday night, as they combined for 62 points in the Blazers’ 114-94 Game 2 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Asked about why they play so well together, […]

Damian Lillard has been criticized throughout his career for not being a better defender. While not lackluster, the Portland Trail Blazers guard has shown tremendous improvement over the course of this series, especially after limiting Russell Westbrook to 14 points and a 5-of-20 shooting performance in Game 2: “In the NBA, it’s about team defense. […]

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook took the blame for the Game 2 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers head-on following a 20-point defeat. “I’ll start with myself. I’ve got to be better. I’ll take full responsibility for tonight,” said Westbrook after the game, according to Ben Golliver of The Washington Post. “The way I […]

Oklahoma City Thunder star Paul George is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. However, Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum got him pretty good in Game 2 of their Western Conference first round match-up. McCollum confused George with a nasty hesitation crossover move to bank in the one-handed floater in the first […]

Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook had a heated moment in Game 2 of the 2019 NBA Playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Portland Trail Blazers. Lillard hounded Westbrook on the sidelines in the 2:43 mark of the second period. The Thunder superstar went down to the floor with the Blazers franchise player […]

NBA Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady thinks Oklahoma City Thunder star small forward Paul George has a torn labrum in his right shoulder. George has been dealing with a shoulder ailment for the past few months and it’s affected his jump shot. McGrady had a torn labrum in his shoulder during his career and had […]

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan confirms superstar small forward Paul George is cleared to play in Game 2 on Tuesday against the Portland Trail Blazers. As we all know, George has been dealing with a shoulder issue for quite some time now. The All-Star swingman told reporters on Monday he’s pain free, even […]

Oklahoma City Thunder big man Steven Adams is great friends with Portland Trail Blazers center Enes Kanter, as the two of them spent two and a half years together as teammates with the Thunder. But will Adams be spending some quality time with Kanter during their first-round Western Conference playoff series? Not exactly: Steven Adams […]

For years now, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been one of the best teams in the league, but they have never quite been good enough. They were too young when they lost to the Miami Heat in the finals back in 2012. Then, after trading James Harden, they lacked a No. 3 scorer behind Kevin […]

Houston Rockets guard James Harden has easily established himself as one of the NBA’s elite players in recent years. It seems Utah Jazz forward Thabo Sefolosha saw it coming ever since their days with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Prior to becoming an MVP frontrunner, Harden was a sixth man for the Thunder. According to Eric […]

The 2018-19 NBA MVP Race is almost over with the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Houston Rockets’ James Harden all but guaranteeing that this year’s battle for the crown will come down to just them. Both are considered locks for the 2018-19 All-NBA First Team, but the question remains as to who will join […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder came up short in Game 1 versus the Portland Trail Blazers. Amidst all the action and intensity from this star-studded matchup were the unrelenting boos from Blazers fans. The Moda Center was certainly not shy about expressing their feelings toward Westbrook throughout the evening. Just one problem: The Thunder superstar doesn’t […]

Oklahoma City Thunder star small forward Paul George told reporters in Portland on Monday his shoulder is now pain-free. On Sunday after the Thunder lost Game 1 to the Blazers, George said he wasn’t able to lift his shoulders a few days ago. The All-Star swingman has been dealing with a shoulder issue pretty much […]

Oklahoma City Thunder big man Steven Adams “would love to” play for New Zealand this summer in the 2019 FIBA World Cup. The 2019 FIBA World Cup will qualify seven teams directly for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, with the remaining four-plus host teams to be determined through four Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in 2020, per FIBA […]

Well, that was a fun, interesting opening weekend of the 2019 NBA Playoffs, wasn’t it? Aside from the last two games on Sunday night, which were both blowouts, Game 1 of the playoffs was full of intrigue around the bracket. Upsets, home-court advantage not being home-court advantage, scores from the mid ’90s. You name it, […]

Even after taking Game 1 in the opening series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard was still critical of one aspect of his team’s performance. Lillard was not pleased with his team’s defense of the three-point line and had the following to say about the performance. “I don’t think it […]

Oklahoma City Thunder superstar guard Russell Westbrook is known to be a box score stuffer. He has recorded the second most triple-doubles in NBA history with 138, only 43 behind legend Oscar Robertson. However, he broke one of Roberton’s marks on Sunday night: most playoff triple-doubles. Westbrook recorded 24 points, ten rebounds, and ten assists […]

Oklahoma City Thunder swingman Paul George was obviously not himself on Sunday afternoon after OKC went down to the Portland Trail Blazers, 104-99. George spoke to the media after the game and discussed his own struggles. He was dealing with a shoulder injury entering the playoffs, and the Thunder star admitted that he wasn’t able […]

Portland Trail Blazers center Enes Kanter felt something off when he faced his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Kanter helped the Blazers take down the Thunder and take a 1-0 series lead. However, while he is happy with the result, the Turkish center can’t help but feel ‘very weird’ playing his previous employer in […]

Damian Lillard is the heart of the Portland Trail Blazers, but Enes Kanter gave them some soul against a familiar opponent at the start of the Western Conference postseason. The Trail Blazers gave their hometown crowd something to cheer for on Sunday afternoon. By defeating the always-dangerous Oklahoma City Thunder, 104-99, in Game 1 of […]

The Oklahoma City Thunder could be at an early disadvantage in their first round series against the Portland Trail Blazers, as ESPN’s Royce Young says that star forward Paul George will be a game-time decision on Sunday afternoon ahead of Game 1: Paul George is a gametime decision, Billy Donovan says. He’ll go through his […]

Oklahoma City Thunder star Paul George’s availability for Game 1 of their opening round series against the Portland Trailblazers is still up in the air. Jamie Hudson of NBC Sports Northwest reported on Twitter that George remains questionable for Game 1 due to right shoulder soreness. Thunder Injury Report for Game 1: Andre Roberson (left […]

After a long, 82-game campaign (who are we kidding? The season flew by like it always does), the 2019 NBA Playoffs are finally here, and while pretty much everyone is expecting the Golden State Warriors to win their third straight championship, a lot needs to be settled. And no; I don’t just mean who is […]

Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams says he started taking basketball seriously at 13-years-old. Adams, who grew up in New Zealand, was always tall, but he began to hone in on his skills at 13. The big man played his high school basketball at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Adams then played college basketball […]

Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams says star point guard Russell Westbrook “is very easy to get along with.” There’s this narrative around the league that Westbrook is a bad teammate and not a good locker room guy. Adams, though, says that’s not true at all and that the Thunder superstar is a normal person. “There’s […]