OKC Thunder host Blazers to complete season series : preview

The OKC Thunder host the Portland Trail Blazers in the final meeting between the clubs in the regular season. Gameday breaks down the match.

The OKC Thunder are back facing a Western Conference foe after hosting two of the elite Eastern Conference clubs in the Toronto Raptors and the Miami Heat. Unfortunately due to the injuries to Steven Adams and Nerlens Noel, the OKC Thunder were outplayed by both squads.

Fortunately for the Thunder, Portland have been suffering their own injury issues in the big man department Hassan Whiteside has missed some games through illness and Skal Labissiere is out with a knee issue.

In fact, the Trail Blazers season has been less than successful. After knocking the OKC Thunder out of the playoffs last season and making the Western Conference finals, the Trail Blazers are out of the playoffs by a game and a half midway through the season.

The Trail Blazers began the week with wins over the Charlotte Hornets and Houston Rockets. Like the Thunder, the Blazers enter on the second game of a back to back set having played Friday and losing to the Mavericks.

The Blazers are 4-6 in their last 10 games. However, the Thunder can thank the Trail Blazers for their record in December. During their first road trip of December, the Thunder won in Portland for the first time in the regular season in more than five seasons.

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The confidence this gave the team was palpable. They won without Danilo Gallinari who was out with an ankle injury. It was also the first career start for rookie Darius Bazley. This was part of the win total that resulted in the best record in the Western Conference for December.

The win also broke the Trail Blazers hold over the Thunder which extended back to the playoffs last season.