Lakers and Thunder Fire Up the NBA Night: Thunder Earns Revenge on Portland, Lakers Edge Utah
24 November 2025
Thunder Turn the Page as Gilgeous-Alexander Shines
Canadian star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA's reigning Player of the Week, led the Oklahoma City Thunder past the Portland Trail Blazers 122-95 on Sunday, pouring in 37 points on 13-for-18 shooting, hitting 2-for-3 from deep, and converting all nine free throws, while adding seven assists, five rebounds and two steals.
The victory pushed OKC to a 17-1 start, extending a nine-game winning streak after a late-season stumble against Portland on November 5. Ajay Mitchell added 20 points on a perfect 8-for-8 night, and Isaiah Hartenstein grabbed 15 rebounds, helping solidify the Thunder's control from start to finish.
Mitchell praised Gilgeous-Alexander: “He’s a special player, and watching him operate in that space is fun for all of us.” Portland’s Jerami Grant contributed 21 points in a losing effort.
OKC jumped out to a 39-18 first-quarter lead, carried a 67-46 halftime edge, and expanded the margin to 96-68 after three quarters. The Blazers trimmed the gap late, but the Thunder remained in command, sealing a historically strong start for the franchise.
Head coach and players noted the win as a testament to preparation and consistency over 48 minutes, and the Thunder logged their seventh home win without a loss for good measure.
Lakers Extend Their Rise as Doncic Delivers in a Close Call
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers kept their momentum rolling with a 108-106 victory at Utah thanks to Luka Dončić’s 33 points and 11 rebounds. LeBron James, returning from a back issue, added 17 points in 34 minutes on 8-for-18 shooting, while contributing eight assists and six rebounds despite going 0-for-3 from beyond the arc. Austin Reaves chipped in 22 points and 10 rebounds.
Utah’s standout Keonti George provided a strong showing with 27 points and eight assists, though it wasn’t enough to derail the visitors. The night also featured a cluster of late-night league updates, including Donovan Mitchell’s team updates and other scores across the league.
On the injury front, ESPN and The Athletic reported that Kevin Durant will miss the next two games with the Rockets for family reasons, and Denver’s Aaron Gordon is out four to six weeks with a hip sprain, impacting several teams as the season tightens up.
“Happy with the win, pleased with how we played for 48 minutes,” said a Lakers coach after the game. “We’ve got to carry this forward and stay sharp.”
And as the NBA rolls on, remember: a good defense is like a good punchline—timing matters, and nobody likes getting hit with a late, unanswered three. If basketball were a comedy club, tonight’s games would definitely be headliners; the crowd’s still laughing, and the popcorn forgot it’s supposed to be a snack, not a strategy.
