Trail Blazers and Thunder Clash at Paycom Center
As the Portland Trail Blazers prepare to face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center, fans are looking for signs of hope after a challenging season. The upcoming game on January 11th is an opportunity for the Trail Blazers to turn the tide, but recent performances suggest a tough battle ahead.
In their last outing against the New York Knicks on January 10th, Portland's struggles were evident in an 84-112 defeat. With only a 38 percent field goal percentage and a concerning three-point percentage of just 21 percent, it's clear that shooting woes have plagued the team. Despite grabbing 50 rebounds and scoring 48 points in the paint, they couldn't capitalize on these efforts due to their inefficiency from beyond the arc.
The Trail Blazers' defensive rating of nearly 113 points per possession also highlights significant issues on that end of the floor. They allowed New York to lead for nearly all game time (46:51), with no answer to stop their opponents' offensive onslaught.
However, there's a glimmer of hope from Portland's performance against Brooklyn Nets just days earlier on January 7th. In an overtime thriller where they emerged victorious with a scoreline of 134-127, POR showcased what they're capable of when firing on all cylinders. A much-improved field goal percentage (47 percent) and an impressive three-point shooting performance (53 percent) were key factors in this win. Their offensive rating soared past Brooklyn’s defense at over 122 points per possession.
This victory was not without its flaws though; turnovers remained an issue as they gave up possession ten times during playtime – something that will need tightening up against OKC.
The challenge doesn't get any easier when facing Oklahoma City Thunder who will have home-court advantage and are known for their energetic fan base at Paycom Center. The Thunder have been formidable opponents this season and will look to exploit any weaknesses shown by Portland’s defense which has been less than stellar recently.
For fans hoping for another upset like in Brooklyn, it'll take more than just improved shooting percentages; it’ll require disciplined defense and better ball control if POR is going to come away with another win under their belt.
With tip-off scheduled for January 11th at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City at 5:00 PM local time (8:00 PM ET), fans can catch all action live on ROOT Sports NW+ or BSOK depending upon your location – don’t miss out as Portland looks to build momentum mid-season!