The Oklahoma City Thunder and Portland Trail Blazers face off in what could be a surprisingly competitive matchup, given the significant injury concerns for OKC. With all five Thunder starters—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, and likely Chet Holmgren—expected to miss the game, a completely new-look lineup will take the floor. Additionally, key rotational player Cason Wallace is also sidelined, leaving the Thunder shorthanded and vulnerable. This creates several intriguing betting opportunities, particularly for the Trail Blazers and a few individual player props.
Here’s a breakdown of the best bets for this matchup:
Race to 10 Points – Trail Blazers (-105 on ESPN BET)
With a completely revamped Thunder starting five and an unfamiliar rotation, there’s a strong possibility that OKC will struggle to find offensive rhythm early. The lack of chemistry among their available players could lead to a slow start, allowing Portland to take advantage and jump out to an early lead. The Trail Blazers, despite their struggles this season, have been playing well as of late and should come out aggressive against a depleted opponent. At nearly even odds, backing Portland to reach 10 points first is a solid value play.
Donovan Clingan Over 9.5 Rebounds (+110 on ESPN BET)
Rookie center Donovan Clingan has stepped into a more significant role in the absence of Deandre Ayton, and he has been productive on the glass in games where Ayton has been unavailable. Clingan is averaging 10.0 rebounds per game in such situations, and this matchup presents an even more favorable opportunity for him to exceed that number. The Thunder rank 25th in the NBA in rebounding percentage, and with their top scorers out, the likelihood of additional missed shots increases, creating more rebounding chances for Clingan. Given the plus-money odds, this is a strong value play with upside.
Isaiah Joe Over 3.5 Three-Pointers Made (-125 on ESPN BET)
With the Thunder’s usual offensive weapons sidelined, Isaiah Joe will likely be one of the primary scoring options. Joe has already been heating up from beyond the arc, and his increased playing time in this game should provide ample opportunities to fire away from deep. Expect him to take on an even larger offensive role, and given his ability as a sharpshooter, he has a great chance of surpassing this line. While the juice on this bet is slightly high, the increased shot volume should allow Joe to hit at least four threes comfortably.
Trail Blazers +2.5 (-105 on ESPN BET)
Portland comes into this game with momentum, having won five of their last seven games, and they now face a severely depleted Thunder team that is missing nearly its entire starting lineup. The Blazers’ young core will see this as a prime opportunity to secure a statement win against the Western Conference’s top seed, even if OKC is a shell of its usual self. Given the circumstances, Portland should have a real shot at not only covering the +2.5 spread but potentially winning outright. The combination of the Thunder’s lack of offensive firepower and the Blazers’ recent confidence makes this a great spot to back Portland.
