Reversal of Thunder with 22 points! Trail Blazers shred the defending champion, and undercurrent surges in the Northwest Region

When the Thunder scored 41 points in the first quarter and led by as many as 22 points, almost everyone thought it would be an unsuspicious massacre—the defending champion's eight-game winning streak seemed certain. However, Portland nights are never short of wonder. The Trail Blazers used a shocking 121-119 reversal, which not only ended the Thunder's undefeated season, but also announced to the entire league that the pattern of the Northwest Division is quietly being restructured.

[Reversal code: three-point rain and defensive strangulation]

Trailing by 20 points in the first quarter, the Trail Blazers seemed to be cornered. But the situation changed suddenly in the second quarter. Reese, Holiday and Grant teamed up to shoot 8 three-pointers. The three-point shooting rate in a single quarter once exceeded 70%. This team, which shot only 32.3% from three-point range this season, used the worst method to tear apart the Thunder's defense.

What is more critical is the adjustment of defensive strategy. Trail Blazers coach Split used a full-court press in the second quarter, taking advantage of the Thunder's back-to-back physical bottlenecks to force consecutive turnovers from the opponent. In the entire game, the Trail Blazers completed 12 steals, continuing to rank first in the league in steals per game this season. Kamara's close fight with Alexander and Avdija's defensive sweep completely shattered the Thunder's offensive rhythm.

[Avdija: The Awakening of a Struggling Leader]

Although he made 0 of 11 shots in the start, Avdija used a near-triple-double of 26 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists to illustrate what "dominance under a bad touch" is. He broke out completely after hitting his first sports goal in the third quarter, and in the final quarter he continuously hit the inside to cause damage. Behind the 17 free throws in the game was his smart transformation of refusing to indulge in long shots and resolutely attacking the basket.

It is worth mentioning that Avdija has taken over the game at critical moments many times this season. From being questioned about "insufficient offensive ceiling" at the beginning of the season to now becoming the de facto offensive engine of the Trail Blazers, his growth trajectory is the epitome of the transformation of this youth army.

[Thunder's first defeat: A broken formation is not an excuse, underestimating the enemy is the original sin]

Although Holmgren, Jaylen Williams and other main players were absent, the Thunder's offensive efficiency in the first quarter (41 points in a single quarter) proved that they still have the ability to crush. The root of the problem lies in the laxity after taking the lead: the defense expanded too much in the second quarter and was counterattacked by the Trail Blazers with three points; at the critical moment in the final quarter, Alexander was unable to support himself. Although Wiggins and Mitchell scored 48 points together, the role players repeatedly lost their positions on the defensive end, exposing the experience shortcomings of the young team.

The night Alexander scored 35 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists also served as a warning: In the Wild West, anyone who underestimates the enemy may pay the price.

[Transformation of the Trail Blazers: From "on the edge of the play-offs" to "the killer of strong teams"]

This season, the Trail Blazers have repeatedly performed "lower than above": reversing the Nuggets and ending the Thunder's 8-game winning streak. The team's defensive efficiency has quietly jumped to the forefront of the league. Coach Split's scheduling was indispensable - using Reese as the space-based fifth position, his tactical execution with a shooting percentage of 81.3% in the final quarter, and Kamara's counterattack that grew from a "second-round pick" to the core of the defense, together built the new DNA of this team.

However, hidden dangers still exist: the injuries to Henderson, Thybulle and others have made the rotation tight, and Yang Hansen's three consecutive DNP games also reflects the contradiction between newcomer training and record pressure. If they want to truly hit the playoffs, the Trail Blazers still need to solve the pain point of relying too much on Avdija on the offensive end.

[Conclusion: The power game in the Northwest District has just begun]

The significance of this reversal is far more than just a regular season game. For the Thunder, it is a timely wake-up call: there is no room for slacking on the road to defending the title; for the Trail Blazers, it is a milestone on the road to reconstruction: tenacity and team can crush the hegemony of talent. As the war in the Northwest Division intensifies, perhaps in the near future, we will see these two teams meet again in the playoffs - and by then, Portlanders will no longer be the underestimated party.