- 4 months ago
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00:00After, well, before the trip, but this is why this guy's a first-team all-defensive specialist, I would say, folks, because that's a high-level play.
00:10Now, he got penalized for it, but he almost completed something that's difficult to do on a guy that's taller, he's got a little speed, he's always looking to drive down heel on you, and you can put Lou Dort on anybody.
00:23I mean, anybody.
00:24I mean, he's got that pit bull mentality, and I say that with respect, because I'm a big fan of pit bulls.
00:30But he's got that dog in him, respectfully.
00:34That's a locker room talk that we say, folks.
00:36You know, he's got some dog in him.
00:38And I'm not going to bark either, because it won't sound right.
00:41Leave that to Gallup.
00:46He'll take care of that for the broadcast group.
00:48Maybe Paris, maybe she can help us out, because I'm not going to do it.
00:51I just, I just, I don't do that at all.
00:54I can't make that happen.
00:56Come on, Lawson.
00:56I am not the expert in barking on this broadcast.
01:01Thank you.
01:01I appreciate your honesty, too.
01:04Gallup.
01:06I think I've had my moment.
01:09You've had your towel moments in both.
01:12Yeah, we're going to give you a rest, Nick.
01:15I've had my fair share.
01:18Okay, well said, Nick.
01:19Well said.
01:21I don't know.
01:22We haven't heard it yet, though.
01:23No, you won't.
01:24We're going to 2026, Gallup.
01:27We're flipping the calendar.
01:28That's right.
01:30And the Blazers just committed a pretty bad foul, but it's going to benefit OKC, because
01:37Thunder in the bonus year to get two free throws.
01:40Foul is committed in the backcourt, way in the backcourt.
01:42We've got 71 points here in this first half.
01:48What a magical number for them.
01:52Good defense by Mitchell.
01:54The scoop by Obvio.
01:55He didn't get the whistle.
01:56He didn't get the bucket.
01:58Here is Mitchell slicing in.
02:01Lost his balance.
02:02Orgren had an ocean.
02:05On the cut.
02:06SGA.
02:07Oh, that's the trees.
02:08What a spinning finish.
02:09Man, a little scoop-de-doo.
02:13And some English leather at the end.
02:17That's a tough finish.
02:18All while trying to get away from the defender, the secondary defender, and the big man in
02:23the middle.
02:24Last shot of the first half.
02:26There's a clank by Ardia.
02:27And what a push for the Thunder in the last five minutes of the second quarter.
02:33After the early roll is the lead, the biggest of the night, up to 18.
02:37On the night where you're playing three games at Fortnite, the Thunder bench has been solid
02:42here, folks, with 30 points in the first half.
02:46And right now, it's halftime.
02:49Stick around.
02:49Nick and parents are going to break it down.
02:51Show you how the Thunder will be able to build up this 18-point lead on this special night
02:56of New Year's Eve.
02:58Here's Eve from Paycom Center wishing everybody a happy 2026.
03:06We start the third quarter.
03:08The Thunder up by 18.
03:10Let's check in with Paris.
03:11Well, guys, OKC with a big lead here at halftime.
03:13And I asked Thunder assistant coach Grant Gibbs what's key to not letting Portland back into
03:17this game.
03:18And he told me it's about understanding what they want to get to.
03:21Portland wants to play fast.
03:22They want to get to the paint.
03:23And they want to rack up offensive rebounds.
03:25And we've done a good job keeping that in check so far in this game.
03:28But we can't let our foot off the gas of what we've been doing.
03:30We have to keep it up for 24 minutes, guys.
03:33All right.
03:33Thank you, Paris.
03:35Play fast.
03:37Get the paint and offensive rebounding.
03:39Those are all the things that the Blazers have done well.
03:41But how about Chad Holmgren just going up to the top of Shea and Sharp and just took it right away.
03:45Man, he actually dove over him.
03:50Shea, almost another snazzy move inside.
03:55Holmgren again, this time shutting off Sharp.
03:58Sharp did not want to drive on him.
04:01Here's another steal.
04:03J-Dub fending off Adia, who strips him out of bounds.
04:08And it'll stay OKC ball.
04:11Man, that looked like an awful lot of contact.
04:13He hit him over the shoulder.
04:16What the?
04:16Take a look at this, folks.
04:17He dives over him.
04:19How do you do that without Fallon?
04:21I, that's pretty impressive.
04:23Man, he got all arm.
04:26J-Dub's looking at him like, you know, how did you do that from behind?
04:31Tell me we'll get the basketball back, though.
04:34Ball slides up to three, and he knocks down to three on a busted play.
04:38Revenition of so many shots that we saw, Michael, in the first half where the Blazers just do not want to go out and contest some of those perimeter threes.
04:47How about, so he just kicking the pocket there.
04:51The Thunder's defense is once again turning over the Blazers.
04:57Everybody who has played has scored now that Wallace drained that three.
05:02And he's going to lay a whistle and a foul.
05:04But Michael, the Thunder did a great job in the second half of the second quarter.
05:08After the Blazers shrunk that lead down to seven and blew back up to 18, what's going to be one of the keys for OKC here in the second half?
05:18Well, just the solid defense.
05:20You know, that started the game.
05:22You knock down some shots.
05:23You shoot 58% from the field.
05:24And that's a strong number for any half of basketball.
05:28You put up 73 points.
05:31You like that.
05:31Ready to take your drive to the next level?
05:36Visit your local Kia dealer and feel the power, style, and innovation firsthand.
05:41Kia, the movement that inspires.
05:49Shaden Sharp now near number four.
05:52He's had some loud games.
05:5320-plus and eight out of the last nine.
05:56He's got ten points here in the early minutes of quarter number three.
06:00J-Dub drive, the kick, Doerr off the catch.
06:04And the move ball goes down.
06:07We talked about Klingon.
06:08He's one of those guys who's in drop back coverage, did not want to leave the paint.
06:14And Lou Doerr just knocked down that three.
06:17As Klingon takes the three of his own, starts a fast break for the Thunder, Lucasen Wallace.
06:23Doerr might have missed his first couple threes.
06:26But he's been shooting it with confidence.
06:27There's three in a row from downtown, not to be deterred as this lead continues to rise for the Thunder.
06:36It's up to 25.
06:39Timeout on the floor, called by the Blazers.
06:42So you look at tonight's homeland, dish of the game.
06:45And SGA threaded the needle inside.
06:48And Holmgren knew exactly what to do with it.
06:50Took a little extra work here, Michael, but he got it done.
06:52Nice little combination between the two.
06:54Shea drawing two defenders.
06:55Chet continues to move the body away from Shea while he has the basketball.
07:01And just a nice pocket pass.
07:03Now this guy right here, SGA the reigning MVP.
07:06He's got five assists.
07:07Just showed you one of them right there.
07:09Seventh, foot nine from the field so far for SGA.
07:16Very efficient night.
07:18I just love it when you see those passes go through tight corridors like that.
07:23It has to be perfect, too.
07:24Right?
07:24I mean, it just has to be a perfect pass.
07:27These guys are pros.
07:28They make it look easy.
07:29Wheel, wheel, wheel.
07:31Well, Dort has caught fire from the outside.
07:34Now he's trying to stay attached to Obdia.
07:37He zips it over to the corner.
07:38And there was a three by Kamara, who's been relatively quiet.
07:42That's just his second big shot.
07:43Both have come from behind the arc.
07:46He's got a nice touch.
07:47He has a nice drop over to him.
07:50Obdia through traffic.
07:55Wallace, back outside, Dort.
07:57Extra pass right back to him in the corner.
07:59Little mismatch here, drives across the baseline.
08:02It's SGA off the catch.
08:03Good ball movement.
08:06And Klinging the rebound.
08:08Surely want to keep Donovan Klinging off the offensive glass.
08:13Had a couple of offensive rebounds in the first half.
08:15Nice poke away by Jada.
08:17There's a turnover.
08:18Obdia gave it up.
08:19Kamara's back defensively.
08:20SGA.
08:22Back up top.
08:23It's Wallace, who will step into it from downtown.
08:25No good.
08:29Thunder and Michael are just getting wide open looks from Deke.
08:33Yeah, that's a good pass.
08:34And quick movement with the basketball.
08:36The passing game has been solid for the Thunder.
08:40Kamara was trying to make two in a row.
08:41Can't make it happen.
08:44Thunder in transition.
08:47Jada trying to create a little space.
08:50Holmgren again.
08:51Klinging.
08:52Sagan back.
08:53And that time he missed it.
08:54But Klinging just does not want to get out to the three-point line.
08:59Sissoko denied up top by Holmgren, who's got another block.
09:04SGA rumbling down the lane.
09:06Not going to slow him down as he glides into that two.
09:11Thunder.
09:11Defense, once again, good start here to this third quarter.
09:15Busted up plays by the Trailblazers and getting out of transition.
09:18And SGA commits the foul out of the perimeter to Apia for SGA.
09:24That is number three as he hits 20 points again.
09:29I've got a question for you, Michael.
09:31So SGA, another game scoring 20 points.
09:38For the 105th straight time.
09:40Quiz time.
09:41Who is number two in the NBA for consecutive 20-point games?
09:48The man we just saw.
09:50You said number two?
09:52Who is behind Shea?
09:54Oh, who's behind Shea?
09:55The second most consecutive 20-point game score.
09:59Second most?
10:01Still second longest active streak.
10:05He's playing.
10:07Tell me.
10:08Tyler Hero.
10:10Care to guess what number?
10:11I would have never gotten that, by the way.
10:14Honestly.
10:15In my thinking cap, you know, it was blinking.
10:19But I just couldn't figure it out.
10:21Here's what's going to baffle you even more.
10:23You know what the number is?
10:2416.
10:2916.
10:30Shades up to 105.
10:34That's amazing.
10:35Just trying to put a little perspective and context around this.
10:37That's a big space of time.
10:42Better defense again.
10:44Trying to stand up tall.
10:46Kamara got flicked out by Holgren on another incredible blocking sign.
10:51As the Blazers just cannot crack that defense.
10:54He's just a valuable player on both ends, folks.
10:58I mean, just how he read that, timed it perfectly,
11:01to spike that ball out of bounds like a volleyball player.
11:04By my count, that is three blocks.
11:07But he has affected this game so much more than just the blocks.
11:12As Williams, an offensive rebound.
11:14The kick out.
11:14Sharp.
11:15Had to step on Dort.
11:16Lost his balance.
11:17And Holgren might have got a piece of that one.
11:20Maybe the fourth block of the night.
11:21On the other end.
11:22And it's SGA finishing off the beauty in transition.
11:27You know, he was being chased like a kid in the neighborhood by a bully.
11:31And I say that with respect.
11:32And just took his time and just knew exactly what that defender was
11:36to finish with the left hand.
11:38My goodness.
11:39And Holgren is going to get pounded after coming up with that ball
11:43as he ties the season high now with four blocks.
11:47And how many times, Michael, have we seen Holgren just giving out permission slips inside
11:53and it leads to a runout?
11:54Yeah, he's everywhere.
11:55Look at this.
11:55He just knew Kamara was on his right side
11:57and just sprinted to his left side and finished in a full sprint.
12:01Just to show you, folks, the savant of a score that he is when he needs to be.
12:11Just a track beat when he gets to back.
12:13Some people slow down when he gets to basketball.
12:15And some people speed up.
12:17He's one of those guys who's got speed.
12:19And just automatic at the rim.
12:21There's a step back J by J-Dub.
12:25That comes off the rim.
12:26On the other.
12:28Got a little push on that one.
12:29Boy, Kixson Wallace met him the whole way as Murray knocks down the three.
12:38Still a very robust lead here for the Thunder.
12:43After that, Murray three.
12:46SGA.
12:49Have to pass out to the perimeter.
12:51Look at all the traffic around him.
12:52He's able to get the hand on the basketball.
12:58And in transition, it is Adia.
13:01So Adia up to 17.
13:03Run it, man!
13:03But a typical inefficient shooting night so far for him, Michael.
13:07Five out of 12.
13:09Thunder have kept him sub 40% in the games so far this year.
13:13Thornton, again, from the outside.
13:15An excellent look.
13:15No good.
13:16He's got a hole in his hands.
13:24Looks like Shea might have got to poke away.
13:26And ultimately comes up with the steal.
13:28There is J-Dub on the release.
13:30And J-Dub above the rims.
13:34And right now the Thunder have gotten the Blazers discombobulated with those deflections that lead to steals,
13:41that lead to fast-break opportunities.
13:42He's got a couple already in this quarter alone.
13:4818 turnovers for the Blazers.
13:50Almost number 19 there.
13:53They're pounding Adia.
13:56And Adia's going to get fouled.
13:59Leonard disagree with the call.
14:01I thought that was good team.
14:02Aggressive physical defense, but Adia's going to go to the free-throw line.
14:09How about this?
14:10In transition, big time.
14:15As the Thunder, we've seen that repeated throughout the game so far.
14:19Where they've been able to get the deflection or almost get a steal.
14:24Deflections turn into steal, folks.
14:25That turn into those fast-break opportunities, as you just saw.
14:33Obdi is going to sit.
14:36The Thunder had a ton of fast-break opportunities.
14:38He was the only one clutching that rebound.
14:45Jadav once again blocked out of bounds by Williams, able to recover.
14:51Jadav thought that there might have been a little bit of contact.
14:56I think he got teed off.
14:58No, he got called for a delay of game, folks, because he held a basketball.
15:04He was upset with the official, thought he got hit in the air.
15:11Thunder got to get it in.
15:12They do so.
15:13And now Shane will get to the free-throw line as he victimizes Caleb Love.
15:21Jadav still having a conversation with Jason Goble about the previous play.
15:27And I like that Jason is allowing him to talk to him.
15:32And, you know, J-Dub is reciprocating his calmness to him as well.
15:40And here's the play right here.
15:42Wow.
15:43That's where he thought he got hit on the arm for a hand.
15:49Sometimes a hand can be part of a basketball.
15:51But I like to see officials have that kind of conversation with players in the heat of the moment.
15:57You know, being before a player in this league, you know, sometimes we get a little upset.
16:01And, you know, the officials kind of calm us down.
16:04Or, you know what, if they don't listen to us, we just rev it up.
16:07But that was a nice exchange for me, Jason Goble.
16:11And what you don't want to see as a player is an official who's completely ignoring you.
16:15Yeah, exactly.
16:16Love's going to take the three.
16:18He's got a nice stroke, too, as he knocks it down.
16:22Blazers have shot it well from deep.
16:24Now 9 out of 20 on the night, 45%.
16:27But for the game, the shooting is 43%.
16:30As Shea continues to go to work on the offensive end, he's going to get fouled.
16:36A couple more free throws coming up, as he's already up to 24 points.
16:40Yeah, I think for that time, he got in his landing space.
16:43Kamara did.
16:45Officials didn't think it was enough to warrant or review.
16:49Take a look at this.
16:49This is what we're talking about.
16:50You got to let that guy land.
16:51Yeah, he's right up under it.
16:53Didn't allow him to land.
16:55And a lot of times when it's egregious, the officials will go immediately and take a look at it.
17:00And then sometimes when they feel, okay, there was contact.
17:03But the player is okay.
17:04He got up, let's just get your free throws.
17:08And I have no problem with that because that's something that the officials really want to protect the players on.
17:14And if they need to upgrade that, they certainly feel they will.
17:17And that's usually comes up to the behalf of the other two officials,
17:21a signal for possibly a review.
17:23On the speed and a miss initially on the drive with a followed by Williams.
17:31He's got a nose for the basketball on those offensive rebounds.
17:33Well, Carlson had to come over and block the shot.
17:36That's what he did.
17:37He did his job.
17:37How about this nice cut here in the hand?
17:40My goodness, a backdoor cut.
17:42Any time you see the numbers of the player from behind, you just cut right behind him.
17:49And Shea, the clever player that he used, did exactly that.
17:54Well, Brendan Carlson not missing a beat.
17:57As one of those OKC big men, Michael, we know how good the passers are in Hartenstein and J. Will.
18:03He just had that big passing ability on those cuts.
18:10Just another element of this offense.
18:12Second opportunity here for the Blazers.
18:16As Love wildly throws it out of bounds.
18:20And he's trying to hit Kamara on the sideline.
18:23That was just a scrambled possession.
18:25And you know who made that happen?
18:26SGA.
18:28He got a little deflection, forced him to lose the basketball.
18:31Ended up throwing it away.
18:33He's a thunder.
18:35Got some house money there playing with your...
18:37I don't want to screw you in the game.
18:38All right, bro.
18:40What's up, Dope?
18:41Chad and William.
18:44Yes.
18:46Yes, William.
18:47I like that one.
18:50Good, good.
18:51Good, y'all.
18:53Yeah, boy.
18:57Well, the one thing that stands out is Kenrich Williams' encouragement, but the engagement,
19:02Michael, everybody on the bench engaged in what's going on.
19:05We talked about Alex Caruso earlier in the game, how into the game he is when he's on
19:10the bench, but you know Kenrich Williams is right there with him.
19:13Well, and you know, he's really kind of cool.
19:14I'm loving this, folks, about having Kenrich mic'd up.
19:17He told Lou Dorr, did you hear what he said to Lou?
19:19He said, give me a three.
19:20Lou is giving him four threes today.
19:21I love it.
19:28SGA.
19:31Gives it back out to Carlson.
19:32He didn't want the three.
19:33He's dead.
19:34Carlson.
19:35Oh, he had big goals there.
19:37Getting up to the rim, but he's going to get a trip to the free throw line coming out of
19:40the timeout.
19:42First rounder for Portland.
19:44Hanson's going to commit the foul.
19:46How about Shea once again making really great decisions with the basketball?
19:51You know, a lot of times you talk about him as a primary scorer, but he's a great setup
19:54guy.
19:55That time he took the ball to the middle, collapsed the defense, and then kicked it
19:58back to Carlson.
20:00Had them scrambling, and then Carlson put the ball on the floor, tried to get to the
20:03basket.
20:04That's when he got fouled.
20:07Carlson and 0 for at the free throw line.
20:11Get those minutes.
20:13No J. Will, no Hartenstein.
20:16Carlson has been so reliable in the past when he's come off the bench in these types of
20:22situations.
20:23What's outside here?
20:24A little lazy pass, but Blazers fortunate to retain three seconds.
20:29Sharp has nowhere to go.
20:32None of this love.
20:33Excellent defense.
20:34How about Lewdorff just blanketing showing Sharp, and they forced the turnover.
20:39A lot of times we call that the point of attack.
20:41He was the guy who initiated that.
20:42He just would not allow Sharp to get a good look at the basket.
20:50It's one of those defensive series where the coaching staff said, this is why we work
20:55on it.
20:57Blazers in a zone.
20:58LSGA with the left hand.
21:00He's going to be maybe slightly indecisive there.
21:07Sunderland would gladly put SGA in the middle of the court.
21:10Nice strip.
21:10Out of bounds.
21:11Who's it off of?
21:12And it's off in the leg of Caleb Love.
21:15Who wants Tiago Splitter to challenge, but it seems to be pretty good defense.
21:20How about this?
21:20Yeah, looks like it's off to the mid-die.
21:23I'm not sure who stripped that.
21:26SGA pulls up right over Murray, and he's got two more.
21:31There's that Portland defense.
21:33Defense!
21:34He fell asleep there.
21:35So he was the one.
21:37Strip the basketball on the other end.
21:40Awesome, man.
21:41Blazer, Miss Hillen has some passes here.
21:44Defense rotates, and lots of the three from the outside.
21:53I was watching him before the game.
21:54He's got a nice stroke.
21:57That seven-foot something.
21:59Imagine him in plan, plan, or one-on-one in practice.
22:03I'm okay to watch that, man.
22:04Two big men that's got skills like that.
22:07Dort again from three.
22:09No Carlson, though.
22:10Can we get a finger on it to tap it out?
22:12Got an extra possession.
22:15Mitchell, the pass, the corner, the three.
22:17Wiggins, off.
22:20And 66 is left to go here.
22:23And the third.
22:25Hunter still up.
22:27So far they've done plus five in the quarter.
22:31Sharp.
22:32And the Thunder just done a great job bottling him up.
22:35That time the three, well, short.
22:38From Yang.
22:40That's Dorton trying to drive.
22:41Got around him initially.
22:42The pass right through the defense.
22:44It is Mitchell from the outside, and he bottoms the three up.
22:48A great find from Dorton the drive.
22:50Well, Dorton did a good job of just preoccupying the defense
22:53by driving past the big man.
22:57Oh, nice.
22:58Break down there.
22:59And again, it's off for the Blazers, out of bounds.
23:03That's two fantastic defensive plays, Michael, here in the final minute.
23:07The Thunder have just been able to get a clean hand on the basketball,
23:11dispossess the offensive player, and then get it off them to go out of bounds.
23:15Yeah, I feel those are like what you call, you know, four-point plays, sometimes five-point plays,
23:21where you deny two or three on the other end, and then you tell them how to score two.
23:25Out of the drive, McKay, get an excellent look for Wiggins as SGA was trying to operate hastily.
23:33Shot clock is off.
23:36Obtia's back in, and what should be the final possession here, the third.
23:40Obtia, nowhere to go.
23:42Has to get rid of it.
23:42Murray on the baseline, back up top, five seconds.
23:48It's Obtia, don't want to foul the kickout, Murray, and the three.
23:52And what is just a good offensive possession by the Blazers.
23:58With that extra pass setting up the three for Murray.
24:01But it's still the Thunder, a commanding lead to go into the fourth quarter.
24:07Well, it was all about the defense in that third quarter,
24:10picking up where they left off in the second.
24:12Just tenacious.
24:14You see a lot of times at this level, folks.
24:15Deepest great offense.
24:17There you have it.
24:18It's New Year's Eve.
24:22Tonight's start of the fourth quarter is presented by Devin Energy.
24:26The Blazers got off to a hot start in the first quarter.
24:29Forty percent since, and 21 turnovers.
24:33Rough time this year, the Thunder have forced 20 or more.
24:37Offensively for OKC, absolutely humming along.
24:39Fifty-two percent.
24:40All 11 players, Michael, have come into this game have scored.
24:44The bench has been beat.
24:46Well, just a total team effort, too.
24:48I like those numbers.
24:50Also on the assist side.
24:51Bravo!
24:52With 23 assists.
24:56Oh, Holmgren again might get credit for another block.
24:59He's already got a season-high four.
25:01Back to that shot by Obja.
25:03Spun wide for the turnover.
25:04And Sharp on the other end.
25:10Somebody lost his shoe.
25:13Well, it's not mine.
25:14I got mine on, so.
25:15It's Murray.
25:17It's going to be a little break in the action here by the Blazers sometime.
25:22Intentional foul.
25:23So, Murray can.
25:24I was literally looking at everybody going down the floor, Michael.
25:28Well, who was it?
25:29Was it Sharp?
25:30Was it J-Dub?
25:31Was it Chet?
25:33Where'd that shoe come from?
25:34Because it was laying on the baseline, and I had no idea.
25:37It's an odd thing you don't really see a lot of times when we're calling games
25:41that we start looking for guys' shoes.
25:45It's the shoes.
25:46Somebody's missing a shoe.
25:51That's J-Dub.
25:53Dancing, driving, left hand.
25:54Oh, he's still able to get it up over the rim.
25:57A little bounce and a little spin.
26:01Just a beautiful, hard, physical drive that time by J-Dub.
26:06He's missed a lot of time this year.
26:08That time it's going to be tough.
26:08It's going to be an offensive foul, but he took him out.
26:13Sissoko leaned in, kind of bumped it.
26:17We're already a couple of possessions in this fourth quarter, Michael,
26:20but you remember what Parris said at halftime.
26:22The Blazers want to play fast.
26:24They want an offensive rebound.
26:26They want to get in the paint.
26:27The Thunder have done a good job of limiting all three of those.
26:30How do they do it here in the fourth?
26:31Well, just continue.
26:32I mean, you know, what you have, you know, keep hold of it.
26:36I thought that third quarter was a big huge for the Thunder.
26:38But they were able to, you know, get out there and continue to put up points.
26:45No, the Blazers had 21 points in that third quarter.
26:49Put it up 26, so you go plus five there.
26:53And the defense, man, this has been solid.
26:57Well, there's another deflection on another drive.
26:59He's got a not-man rush.
27:00Two on one.
27:01There is Kaysen Welles flying up for the alley-oop.
27:09Ogdiel back the other way.
27:11Murray rejected at the ring.
27:14Thunder coming back the other way.
27:16Jada, the kick, the open three, and it's Joe.
27:22Out-of-bounds, Thunderball.
27:23Now, you're asking about what the Thunder needs to do in this fourth quarter.
27:28A lot of this.
27:29A lot more of this.
27:31We're playing with some house money right now.
27:34Still a lot of time left in this ball game as the Thunder get out.
27:37How many times have we seen that cause and effect?
27:40The cause?
27:40Strip the ball.
27:42And the effect is to...
27:44Score buckets.
27:47And just like that on a second, on a set piece,
27:50the Thunder will continue to score more buckets.
27:54Got a massive lead now.
27:56Timeout by the Trailblazers.
27:58Is brought to you by MidFirst Banks.
28:01Official currency of Thunder fans.
28:04By Devon Energy, commitment runs deep.
28:08And by your Oklahoma Ford dealers, Ford is the best in Oklahoma.
28:12Fireworks, they're coming, Michael.
28:14But they actually have already happened a little bit here inside Payne Conference Center.
28:18Let's be taking a look tonight at OG&E Power Play of the Game.
28:20This just happened in the fourth quarter,
28:22one of the many opportunities to get out on the break.
28:25Well, and you're loving it, too, because it's coming off defense.
28:28Quick strike offense.
28:29We talked about that, those fast break points for the Thunder.
28:32Keep an eye on that tonight.
28:34They have done just that as a result of their defense.
28:37Kaysen Wallace getting it done on both ends, 25 fast break points.
28:47That's a big number.
28:48I thought that was a big number a couple of nights ago against the Hawks,
28:51where they got 23 fast break points.
28:53It just feels like they had so many runouts.
28:56That time, Suselko able to finish inside.
28:58A 26-point lead here in this fourth quarter.
29:07So you've got 22 points off turnovers, 25 points in transition.
29:11See the relationship between those two numbers?
29:16Hey!
29:17A head shake it out with a little lead in the scoop.
29:22He's had some tough finishes on the left side of the rim
29:25as the three by Suselko goes in.
29:2813 points on the night for him.
29:31Give his 12th start of the season.
29:33Mitchell.
29:35Oh, and they try to go up top to Carlson.
29:38That's this off-line long transition.
29:42The three go good.
29:44Big rebound there for A.J. Mitchell.
29:47Keeping his head up.
29:48Looking to distribute the basketball.
29:50Jayda Woods again.
29:51Nobody there to slow him down, and I think he just lost it on the way up.
29:54Sometimes in the wide open, it's just a little shot.
29:57You don't know what you want to do.
30:01Looks like an opportunity at that long rebound.
30:04Not able to collect.
30:06There's a three.
30:06All this in the Blazers, they're just kind of chucking from behind the group.
30:09One line.
30:10Okay.
30:13Sharp and Omnia.
30:15Take quick threes.
30:17Carlson looking for the open man after the dive.
30:20It is Joe.
30:20He's been fielding on the night.
30:21He's got nine points all via the three.
30:27He has.
30:30Look at the overplaying out front by the Thunder.
30:33That's been a problem.
30:35Oh.
30:36Sharp's going to get a couple of free throws.
30:38It's been a problem for the Blazers.
30:39Because the pressure has just stayed there.
30:44You've got deflections.
30:46You force them to restart their offense.
30:48And then on the next possession, you get a steal.
30:50So that's what happens when it happens repeatedly.
30:52After a while, you get kind of apprehensive.
30:55A little hesitant to pass the ball.
30:57Now your offense slows down and gets out of state.
30:59I've just been really impressed with this third game and four nights at Thunder.
31:03Kept the pressure and the energy up for this entire ballgame.
31:09Be a part of the action at the Thunder's next home game right here at Paycom Center.
31:12Monday, January 5th at 7 p.m. versus the Charlotte Hornets.
31:16Get your tickets now at OKCthunder.com slash buy tickets or by scanning the QR code on your screen.
31:22This is the final home game of four consecutive for the Thunder.
31:29It's just been great being here over Christmas.
31:32And that week that you're talking about after Christmas going into New Year's.
31:36Yeah, now it's OK with it because we have games, you know.
31:39But what about when you go home if it's Thunder are playing?
31:42I said, that's what I'm going to probably.
31:46Well, don't worry.
31:46January's going to be a busy month.
31:4815 games, Michael.
31:49We're going to be on the road.
31:52Two seconds to work with for Wiggins.
31:54Fading away on the three.
31:56And we're going to get a loose ball foul underneath.
31:58And I believe this is going to go against Portland.
32:01AJ Mitchell got shoved in the back.
32:03He was right there on top of that offensive rebound.
32:06What a spark plug he's been.
32:08Not only tonight, but the entire season.
32:11Sitting at 13 points.
32:13And he's perfect on the night.
32:17He's up there and gets up.
32:19A little shove by Kamara.
32:22He's 6 of 6 from the free throw line.
32:253 of 3 from the field.
32:26As I mentioned, a perfect night.
32:29It's a solid night to be able to dictate things on the offensive end.
32:33And again, he gets hacked and fouled and plays through a tough finish.
32:38I thought I had jinxed him, too, because, you know,
32:40let me get this thought out before he takes his shot.
32:44He's taking the shot as I'm talking.
32:46He's 6 of 6.
32:47Now he's 7 of 7, folks.
32:48Oh, I'm off the hook.
32:50Thank you, AJ.
32:51He just looks so hard to guard, too, Mike, because he's so shifty.
32:54He's got that lateral movement.
32:56He's got the excellent handles.
32:58He can go so many different directions.
32:59And as you're a defender, trying to keep up with him or stay attached,
33:05and then when you throw in his ability to finish and the savviness around the rim,
33:09he is such a tough cover.
33:10And he plants well.
33:12He's always like, you know, when he gets in that paint, folks, watch him.
33:15He's not most of the off of one leg.
33:17He plants.
33:18He's balanced.
33:18So when he takes that contact, he can finish through it.
33:23Well, I tell you, they hit him hard.
33:24Once you see this, it's causing effect, folks.
33:27Causing turnovers.
33:28And the effect is just continue to score.
33:30Moving up the basketball.
33:35That's going to be a moving screen there on Carlson.
33:39Well, Mike, this is game number 34 in the season,
33:41and the fourth game already against Portland.
33:43Are you disappointed we're not going to see the Blazers for the rest of the year?
33:46No, I'm not at all.
33:47This man, we've been to Portland twice.
33:49Portland's come here twice.
33:51The only good thing about being a broadcaster when you play a team four times,
33:58where you can go back and you look at your notes,
34:00it's almost like a cheat sheet.
34:01Because you've already done so much of the work.
34:05That's so tight, man.
34:06I mean, we're not even through the end of the year.
34:09You've already played it four times.
34:10The Thunder have not played the Denver Nuggets once.
34:22As Carlson runs one in from Derek.
34:25January is going to be a busy month for the Thunder, Mike.
34:35As we said, 15 games coming up.
34:38Eight of those are coming on the road.
34:39They've got a nice, big, long road trip in the middle of the month.
34:43That's going to span to some Eastern Conference teams.
34:45As we come up, and it's hard to believe, we're coming up here.
34:51Still got a few games, but on the midway point of the season,
34:54once you get into January, that's hard to believe.
34:57Yeah, and you know, I've done a great job, folks.
35:01There's 28-5 right now.
35:04Went through a whole lot, especially just not being healthy.
35:08They have not had the same lineup from the playoffs for a full game yet.
35:15So, kudos to the guys for showing up and stepping in and stepping up.
35:21When they get the call, Sissoko, man, he's got a nice stroke.
35:29Even when he draws a lot of rim.
35:32He's got 16, 15, or 19 points out of school, folks.
35:35He's got the last three.
35:39Joe navigating.
35:41There's Kenrich.
35:45And the rebound.
35:47The Hudson.
35:49Passed the midway point of this fourth quarter.
35:51But they're going to travel to the Bay Area tomorrow.
35:54That's intercept there by Kenrich Williams.
35:58As Joe awaits.
36:02What a little bit of offense here.
36:05Back outside.
36:07It's Joe.
36:08Oh, he's been feeling it from three.
36:10I think he got fouled.
36:11Well, actually, it was A.J. Mitchell got shoved in the back in the lane by Love as the shot was going up.
36:19And he's going to get a free throw.
36:21And this, take a look at this, folks.
36:24His love just hits him in the back.
36:27Almost like a check in a hockey game.
36:31So the three will count.
36:33A.J. Mitchell will get a free throw.
36:34A.J. Mitchell has shot him so well in this game.
36:40Fifty-two-and-a-half percent.
36:44Just precise on the offensive end.
36:48He's getting shots that are good shots.
36:52Breaking down the defense.
36:55That ball snapped outside.
36:57Murray misses a wide right.
36:58Nice rebound.
36:58Weak side.
36:59Mitchell had it punched away.
37:02Reed.
37:03Dump.
37:04Carlson.
37:04Nice rebound.
37:05Well, it's America to go three-and-one against this Blazers team on the season.
37:13Blazers handed OKC that loss back in early November was the first loss of the season.
37:18That tight game that went down here.
37:22This Blazers team has played more single-digit games than anybody in the NBA.
37:27Twenty-two, but that's not going to be the case tonight.
37:30As Yank misses it, but Mark Dangle still wants to tie it out.
37:34Use it or lose it here at 4.55.
37:36Left to go in the fourth quarter.
37:38It has been all thunder here on New Year's Eve.
37:40What a way to close 2025.
37:44Happy 2026.
37:47And what a year it has been for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
37:51The tradition continues here inside Paycom Center.
37:53We've been so glad that you've been with us.
37:55Welcome inside.
37:57Alongside my broadcast partner, Michael Cage.
37:58I'm Chris Fisher-Michael.
38:00What a year it has been.
38:01And we've been fortunate enough here to have a front-row seat to 2025.
38:05And what this Thunder team has been able to accomplish, it has been incredibly memorable.
38:09It has been very special, folks.
38:11And I hope you've enjoyed it right on up to the parade last summer or last spring.
38:15And, you know, just seeing everybody come together.
38:18I mean, the city, the fans, and give the state of Oklahoma its first NBA championship at the professional level.
38:27And in continuing, this team growing and continuing to improve into this year has been really special.
38:35It's almost one of those years you just hate to see it end.
38:37There's still much to look forward to in 2026.
38:43So much of the regular season still left to be played.
38:45We will see what is in store as we flip that counter.
38:51There is a great block by Carlson.
38:53Keeping things going on the defensive end.
38:56What is a 30-point advantage for the Thunder?
38:59Nice sneak in there by Love on the back side.
39:02Taking it away from Carlson.
39:03That was a 10th block of the Knights of the Thunder.
39:09That's been spearheaded by Chet, who has six of those.
39:14He's got six blocks tonight.
39:15It allows us if I can appoint something out.
39:18The driving is such an important part of what the Blazers do.
39:21But shutting off that driving and shutting off those lanes.
39:26It's just good point of attack defense.
39:27But having guys like Chet back there, Brandon Carlson, those two levels of defense have been really good.
39:32Yeah, you like that.
39:34And then, you know, the speed of the basketball going the other way.
39:39The Thunder with those 25 fast break points.
39:43And keep that in perspective a couple of nights ago.
39:45It's a mark in this very same building.
39:47They had 23 fast break points.
39:49Now also, too, this is your third game in four nights.
39:51I have to keep stating that, folks.
39:53A lot of times you just don't have the legs to get 25 fast break points.
39:56So the shot clock of that young man right there,
39:59the defensive prowess of that guy next to him,
40:01along with Caruso and Dort.
40:04And obviously the brilliance of Shea tonight was just fantastic.
40:11Final three minutes and change.
40:16Kenridge.
40:17Carlson, traffic, and still able to score.
40:20Carlson had a nice game here, Michael.
40:2212 points coming off the bench.
40:23The bench overall throughout this game has been excellent.
40:26Now they've got 49 points.
40:29The bench does, folks.
40:30They have 30 at halftime.
40:32So it wasn't like they just got it all in the second half or this fourth quarter.
40:36Just a total team effort tonight.
40:39By the thunder.
40:40Oh, Carlson, man.
40:41Tipped that with his fingertips.
40:43You got to be up pretty high to do that.
40:44You just have to trust me on that because you can never tip it up when it's that high.
40:48You have to wait for it to come down and strip it.
40:50Joe, a rare miss from deep.
40:56Here's the final two and a half minutes.
41:02There's a miss.
41:04Kenridge Williams the rebound.
41:08He's got Youngblood also on the floor.
41:11He's got two two-way players.
41:14And you get a loose ball foul here.
41:18Loose ball foul is not important, I believe.
41:20The Blazers earned the penalty, so free throws here.
41:23He's going to be on Camaro.
41:24He grabbed the jersey of Kenridge.
41:26He's going to get free throws.
41:28Showing the balance of the night for the Thunder.
41:30A little bit of a short roster.
41:31Seven players in double figures tonight.
41:34And, you know, the play of the bench.
41:38And I know you've got, you know, to pay some bills here,
41:40but I can't wait for you to tell me who the player of the game is.
41:44Because I really, it's a tough call for me,
41:47but I really want to know who that guy's going to be.
41:49You're not playing favorites here?
41:52No, I'm thinking Shea.
41:53I'm thinking, I'm thinking Chet.
41:55But also, like the bench, though, you got 49 points from the bench.
41:59Or now 51.
42:00All right, the big reveal.
42:01Tonight's Thunder play of the game.
42:02Brought to you by Riverwind Casino.
42:04Are you ready, Mike?
42:06Drum roll.
42:06All right.
42:07For this guy right here.
42:08It is A.J. Mitchell.
42:0917 points coming off the bench.
42:12Get into the free throw line.
42:14Able to operate that offense like he can.
42:17Whether it's playing with Shea, playing off the ball.
42:2217 points.
42:24And just leading that bench charge that you were just referencing.
42:28That has been so productive throughout this game.
42:30Now, what, 50 bench points.
42:33Excuse me, but I can't correct it.
42:3452 bench points.
42:35Okay, okay, okay, okay.
42:36And A.J. Mitchell, who we just talked about, folks.
42:38He's had a perfect night.
42:40The guy was 7 of 7 from the free throw line.
42:44Excuse me, I'm kind of shortchanging a little bit on that.
42:48But Mitchell is 8 of 8 from the free throw line.
42:524 of 4 from the field.
42:531 of 1 from downtown.
42:55What a night he's had.
42:56What a night that is for a second-year player.
42:59He's plays at his own pace, night after night.
43:06Kenridge.
43:10That's a good backspin on that shot.
43:12You can see it from here.
43:14You can see it from here.
43:14Team pass!
43:15And we're talking about how much weight this game has tonight.
43:18It's going to be a nice move and a dunk by Love.
43:20Both these teams came in with a two-game winning streak.
43:24Trailblazers thinking, look, okay.
43:25We beat you on, so I can bet you on the first game.
43:27We could even up this series tonight, you know, and keep going as no mental.
43:34Kevin did a great job of just establishing himself early in this ball game.
43:38Kept her foot on the gas and never let up.
43:43The standings, the Blazers, one of those teams, Michael,
43:46thinks that they could be potentially in the play in conversation right now
43:50at the season ended today.
43:52They'd be in that 9-10 matchup.
43:54That's a young group, and that's going to be a loose ball foul.
44:00Blazers are 14-19, about to be 14-20.
44:05And they would play the Memphis Grizzlies.
44:09And they're coming off of, as you said, two wins,
44:13one against Boston, one against Dallas.
44:15They feel like they are making progress.
44:17Absolutely, and this guy right here, Tiago Splitter,
44:20has done a great job of reorganizing this team as the interim head coach.
44:24You know, they've got some talent on this team.
44:28Talk about, we're ready to talk about Denny Hoppula.
44:31You know, shaded shot.
44:34There's a, you know, Jeremy Grant.
44:37There's a lot of promise, and a lot of things with trouble as his fans
44:41and look forward to, but tonight, on New Year's Eve,
44:45it belonged to the Thunder.
44:46And the cue, the victory music here inside Paycom Center.
44:52But close the books on 2025.
44:56See the number there, the 70th win in the calendar year.
45:00What a remarkable 365 days it has been.
45:05Oh, so memorable here for this Thunder team, the city.
45:08But the Thunder are going to earn another victory here at home,
45:2129-5 on the season, and that'll do it as we are headed to 2026.
45:27There's a Thunder in this New Year's Eve tradition from Oklahoma City victorious.
45:36You had to get 124-95 our final score.
45:40And so many people, so many players,
45:43big contributions to take down the Blazers.
45:45And the Thunder will move to 14-4 on these New Year's Eve games,
45:51as it was a total team effort tonight with those seven players in double figures
45:55and that massive 52 points from the bench tonight.
46:00You can start your celebration from here, folks.
46:04Still got a little time before the calendar flips,
46:09but certainly a great start to it for the Thunder to end 2025.
46:12A little less than three hours until we officially flip.
46:19But what an overall performance it was.
46:21Chet Holmgren and his two-way force on both ends of six blocks.
46:31Here's Nick.
46:32He's standing by with A.J. Mitchell.
46:34Thanks, Chris.
46:35A.J., the defense just seemed to tighten as the game went on.
46:38You allowed fewer points each quarter.
46:40How does this team go about learning in-game and then applying it so quickly?
46:45I mean, I think we learn really quick.
46:46Obviously, we try to make adjustments as soon as we see something.
46:50And we have great guys.
46:51They know how to play the game.
46:52They know how to play defense.
46:53So it's easy to make those adjustments.
46:55Once again tonight, it seemed like your offense had the opponent on their heels.
46:59What's been key in terms of just the unpredictability on that end of the floor?
47:02I mean, I think just staying aggressive, letting the game come to me, and then finding my teammates,
47:08finding a place for me, and just playing free.
47:10Yeah, I don't know how somebody scores 17 points on only four shots, but you managed to do it.
47:16How have you been able to put so much pressure on the rim and get to the line the way you have?
47:20I mean, I think my teammates helped me a lot.
47:22Just giving me the space to drive and then finding the man and then just staying aggressive.
47:26That's been the message from the coaching staff and my teammates this whole year.
47:29So just trying to do that.
47:31A night like tonight, New Year's Eve, everybody got involved.
47:34It seemed like everybody got into a rhythm.
47:35How good does this feel from the bench to the floor?
47:38Oh, it's amazing.
47:39I mean, seeing all the guys get on the court, be able to play, and just have fun.
47:44It's amazing, especially for New Year's Eve.
47:46So keep it that way for 2026.
47:49Congrats, AJ.
47:50Happy New Year.
47:50Enjoy the celebrations.
47:51Thank you.
47:52Happy New Year.
47:52LHA Mitchell doesn't play like a second-year player and getting a chance to play in his
48:00second New Year's Eve game here from downtown Oklahoma City.
48:06The Thunder just dominate on the night.
48:09The fireworks inside the building.
48:11That already happened.
48:12Still some fireworks to come.
48:14124-95, our final.
48:16Our director, Eric Date, producer, Steve Melton, Michael Cage, Nick Allen, and our entire production
48:21crew.
48:21I'm Chris Fisher.
48:22Our next broadcast comes your way Friday as the Thunder will be in San Francisco to
48:25take on the Warriors.
48:27Game time, 9 p.m. with Thunder Live pregame beginning at 8.30.
48:31Stay tuned after the break.
48:32Parrish Lawson and Royce Young join us to break down all of tonight's action on Thunder Live
48:39Postgame.
48:40Happy New Year.
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