----- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finishes with 24 points and nine rebounds and Mike Muscala scored 23 points off the bench as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 125-122 Monday night at Moda Center.
Blazers Coach Terry Stotts was not pleased with his team's effort Monday night.
Following their 125-122 loss to the Thunder at Moda Center, he expressed his frustration.
“Primarily, they moved the ball really well,” he said. “We didn't contain their penetration, our attention to detail was very poor.
“Our first-half defense was pathetic and there's no excuse for it. But I thought, Oklahoma City played really well. They penetrated the ball, they passed the ball, they shot the ball.”
Entering the night, the Thunder were dead last in offensive efficiency. They scored a season-high 69 points in the first half. Oklahoma City shot 51.2% from the field including 18-of-40 from three-point range.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder (7-9) with 24 points and Mike Muscala added 23 points off the bench.
Portland pulled to within two-points in the fourth quarter, but Hamidou Diallo's floater from out front put the Thunder up 105-98 with just over eight minutes left in the game.
Diallo's layup extended Oklahoma City's lead to 111-100. Carmelo Anthony's three-pointer pulled Portland within 117-111 with 3:25 left, but Darius Bazley answered with a three for the Thunder.
Anfernee Simons followed up his 16-point performance Sunday night to lead Portland (9-7) with 26 points against the Thunder on 6-of-10 shooting from beyond-the-arc.
Enes Kanter played with great energy and hustle finishing with 13 points and 22 rebounds.
Injury Update- Rodney Hood was a late scratch (thigh contusion), Robert Covington did not play (Concussion), and Derrick Jones Jr. left the game early (thigh contusion). Coach Stotts used a starting lineup of Damian Lillard, Gary Trent Jr., Enes Kanter, Derrick Jones Jr., and Carmelo Anthony.
Up Next- The Trail Blazers start a six-game road trip Thursday night in Houston against the Rockets. The game is scheduled to tip off at 6:30 PM.
Chad's Take- Following the game Blazers Coach Terry Stotts said, "First half defense was pathetic." He was right.