Damian Lillard turned Portland’s third quarter into a long-range light show, and the Trail Blazers used it to stop Oklahoma City’s three-game winning streak with a 123-103 victory Tuesday night. Portland entered at 6-3 after two straight losses, while the Thunder arrived 8-2 and rolling. By the final horn, Lillard had scored 25 points, Deni Avdija had directed the attack, and the Blazers had written a strong answer to an early-season challenge.

The first quarter was a tight tug-of-war. Portland’s Donovan Clingan opened the scoring story with a 27-foot three-pointer, then battled inside for rebounds. Oklahoma City answered with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 26 points, and rookie center Aday Mara, whose two dunks helped the Thunder lead 27-26 after one. Portland stayed close because its big men kept creating extra chances, including Clingan’s alley-oop dunk just before the buzzer.

The second quarter brought more quick swings. Guard McCain hit a jumper and a three for Oklahoma City, but Portland’s bench fired back. Guard Chris Youngblood made two three-pointers, and Scoot Henderson tied the game at 34 with a deep shot. Avdija then powered in a layup and added the free throw for a three-point play, meaning a basket plus a foul shot. Neither team could escape. Lillard hit a three, Avdija buried another from long range, and Mara’s put-back dunk tied the game 59-59 at halftime.

Then Portland’s shooters broke the tie. Avdija scored on a running layup early in the third, while Toumani Camara and guard Cissoko knocked down threes. The Thunder briefly moved ahead 69-67 on guard McCain’s three, but Lillard answered from 30 feet to put Portland back in front. He later drilled another 30-footer, and Portland’s lead kept growing. Lillard scored 14 points in the period, including a layup and three deep shots. His final three before the quarter ended made it 97-80.

That burst mattered because it came with stops. Clingan blocked Gilgeous-Alexander at the rim, and Portland forced 12 Thunder turnovers. Avdija tied the whole effort together with 24 points and eight assists, which means passes that became baskets. He found teammates all night, while Clingan grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked two shots to protect the paint.

Oklahoma City tried to climb back in the fourth behind McCain, who finished with 21 points, but Portland never let the gap shrink enough to create late drama. Cissoko hit two more threes, and the Blazers made 19 shots from beyond the arc. Portland also took care of the ball with only eight turnovers, a major improvement against Oklahoma City’s active defense.

The win lifts Portland to 7-3 and gives its busy group of creators a clear example of how powerful ball movement and timely shooting can be. Oklahoma City falls to 8-3, but its next chance comes quickly: these teams meet again in Portland, where the Thunder will try to turn this chapter around.

Damian Lillard’s Deep Shots Light Portland’s 123-103 Win