NBA Daily Picks For Jan 26, 2025: Thunder Look To Bounce Back Against The Blazers

The Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, look to rebound against the Blazers and maintain dominance in the Western Conference.

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Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

After a tough 4-5 outing in last week’s predictions, our season record now stands at 275-154, with an accuracy rate of 64.1%. Tonight, we have a single game on the slate as the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Thunder, led by MVP-caliber play from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, have been one of the league’s most dominant teams this season. On the other hand, the Trail Blazers have had a rough season, plagued by injuries and a lack of cohesion.

Let’s aim to keep our predictions strong with tonight’s lone game.


Oklahoma City Thunder At Portland Trail Blazers – 6:00 PM EST

Thunder Current Record: 36-8

Blazers Current Record: 17-28

Thunder Injuries: Lugentz Dort – Out (Knee), Chet Holmgren – Out (Hip), Nikola Topic – Out (Knee), Ajay Mithcell – Out (Foot)

Blazers Injuries: Taze Moore – Out (Hip), Deandre Ayton – Out (Knee), Matisse Thybulle – Out (Ankle)

Last 5 Meetings: Thunder Lead 5-0

The Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center in a Western Conference matchup. The Thunder aim to bounce back after a surprising home loss to the Dallas Mavericks, where despite strong performances from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, the rest of the roster struggled to contribute. With a stellar 16-5 road record, the Thunder remain a dominant force in the league, and they’ll look to reestablish their rhythm.

On the other side, the Trail Blazers enter this game on a four-game win streak, their best stretch of the season. Anfernee Simons has been leading the charge offensively, while Portland’s defense has been a standout, allowing just 99.2 points per 100 possessions during this stretch. 

However, the quality of their recent opponents raises questions about the sustainability of their form. The Blazers remain at a disadvantage in key metrics, especially in offensive efficiency, where the Thunder shine.

Despite Portland’s recent momentum, Oklahoma City’s depth and consistency, led by Gilgeous-Alexander’s elite play, should give them the upper hand. Look for the Thunder to control the tempo and rebound from their previous loss.

Prediction: Thunder def. Blazers 115-104

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Vishwesha Kumar is a staff writer for Fadeaway World from Bengaluru, India. Graduating with a Bachelor of Technology from PES University in 2020, Vishwesha leverages his analytical skills to enhance his sports journalism, particularly in basketball. His experience includes writing over 3000 articles across respected publications such as Essentially Sports and Sportskeeda, which have established him as a prolific figure in the sports writing community.Vishwesha’s love for basketball was ignited by watching LeBron James, inspiring him to delve deeply into the nuances of the game. This personal passion translates into his writing, allowing him to connect with readers through relatable narratives and insightful analyses. He holds a unique and controversial opinion that Russell Westbrook is often underrated rather than overrated. Despite Westbrook's flaws, Vishwesha believes that his triple-double achievements and relentless athleticism are often downplayed, making him one of the most unique and electrifying players in NBA history, even if his style of play can sometimes be polarizing. 
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