Portland takes on Oklahoma City, looks to end 7-game slide

Updated Apr. 4, 2022 3:22 a.m. ET

Portland Trail Blazers (27-51, 13th in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (23-55, 14th in the Western Conference)

Oklahoma City; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EDT

LINE: Thunder -3.5

BOTTOM LINE: Portland aims to break its seven-game slide with a victory over Oklahoma City.

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The Thunder are 16-32 in Western Conference games. Oklahoma City ranks third in the NBA with 35.5 defensive rebounds per game led by Josh Giddey averaging 6.0.

The Trail Blazers are 1-13 against the rest of their division. Portland averages 13.5 turnovers per game and is 12-18 when committing fewer turnovers than opponents.

The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Thunder won the last meeting 134-131 in overtime on March 29, with Isaiah Roby scoring 30 points points in the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is scoring 24.5 points per game with 5.0 rebounds and 5.9 assists for the Thunder. Theo Maledon is averaging 14.8 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 47.3% over the past 10 games for Oklahoma City.

Anfernee Simons is shooting 44.3% and averaging 17.3 points for the Trail Blazers. Ben McLemore is averaging 3.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Portland.

LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 3-7, averaging 113.1 points, 46.2 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 6.7 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.2 points per game.

Trail Blazers: 1-9, averaging 108.1 points, 41.7 rebounds, 24.8 assists, 10.7 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 123.9 points.

INJURIES: Thunder: Josh Giddey: out for season (hip), Ty Jerome: out for season (hip), Tre Mann: out (hamstring), Kenrich Williams: out (knee), Derrick Favors: out for season (back), Mike Muscala: out for season (ankle), Darius Bazley: out for season (knee), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: out for season (ankle), Luguentz Dort: out for season (shoulder).

Trail Blazers: Nassir Little: out for season (shoulder), Josh Hart: out (knee), Jusuf Nurkic: out for season (foot), Damian Lillard: out for season (abdominal), Trendon Watford: out (knee), Eric Bledsoe: out for season (achilles), Anfernee Simons: out for season (knee), Joe Ingles: out for season (knee), Justise Winslow: out (calf).

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