Thunder face Trail Blazers with a shorthanded roster in New Year’s Eve clash
The Oklahoma City Thunder are set to square off against the Portland Trail Blazers in their traditional New Year’s Eve matchup. Known affectionately as the Bricktown Ballers, the Thunder hold an impressive 13-4 record on this festive day, a tradition that has thrived since the franchise’s move from Seattle. As they aim to conclude their home stand on a high note, the Thunder have already secured victories over the Philadelphia 76ers and the Atlanta Hawks earlier this week, looking for a third straight win to cap off the holiday.
Injury woes cloud Thunder’s lineup
However, the Thunder will face a challenge as they take the court without two pivotal frontcourt players: starting center Isaiah Hartenstein and key reserve big man Jaylin Williams. Their absence forces Oklahoma City to reconsider its starting lineup, potentially opting for a smaller, more agile approach against a Trail Blazers team that will likely rely on Donovan Clingan in the paint. In addition to Hartenstein and Williams, the Thunder are also missing Ousman Dieng, Thomas Sorber, and Nikola Topic.
As fate would have it, the Trail Blazers are not without their own injury struggles. They will be without Jerami Grant, Jrue Holiday, Scoot Henderson, Blake Wesley, and Matisse Thybulle. Kris Murray’s status was uncertain heading into the game, but he was upgraded to available after pregame warm-ups, providing a slight boost for Portland.
Recent history favors the Thunder
Interestingly, Portland handed Oklahoma City one of their five losses this season during a previous matchup in Oregon, which took place on the second night of a back-to-back for the Thunder. Since that encounter, the Thunder have decisively defeated the Trail Blazers on two occasions, looking to close out the regular-season series with a 3-1 advantage tonight at the Paycom Center.
With both teams grappling with significant absences, this match promises to be a gritty showdown. Portland is eager to salvage a split of the season series, while the Thunder are determined to assert their dominance and secure another victory at home. As the clock ticks down to tip-off, both sides eagerly unveiled their starting lineups, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the year.
