Portland Trail Blazers vs Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Pick & Prediction for 12/31
The NBA regular season is starting, and the Portland Trail Blazers are set to play against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The game will take place at Paycom Center on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at 8:00 PM. The Trail Blazers have a record of 14-19, while the Thunder are leading with a record of 28-5.
Portland is under interim head coach Tiago Splitter. They are ranked 10th in the Western Conference. Oklahoma City, led by Mark Daigneault, holds the top spot in the same conference. Both teams are on a two-game winning streak, making this an exciting start to the season.
Trail Blazers vs Thunder Game Day Info
- Sport: NBA
- Teams: Portland Trail Blazers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
- Venue: Paycom Center
- Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2025
- Betting Odds: Thunder -15.5 (-113), Trail Blazers +15.5 (-109), Over/Under 233.5
Portland Trail Blazers Team Preview
The Portland Trail Blazers have shown mixed results in recent games. They won against the Dallas Mavericks with a 125-122 score. In this game, Deni Avdija was the standout player, contributing 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists. Shaedon Sharpe added 24 points and 5 rebounds. Donovan Clingan scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Portland’s offensive performance ranks 15th in points per game, scoring an average of 116.8 points. They attempt 90.9 field goals per game, placing them 7th in this category. However, their field goal percentage is low, ranking 28th at 44.8%. From beyond the arc, they average 13.8 three-pointers made per game, but their percentage is near the bottom of the league at 33.5%.
The team faces challenges with injuries, impacting key players. Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard are out, affecting their backcourt depth. Additionally, Jerami Grant’s status is uncertain due to Achilles tendonitis. With these injuries, the Trail Blazers rely heavily on players like Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe to carry the scoring load in upcoming games.
Oklahoma City Thunder Team Preview
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been strong at home in recent games. They won against the Atlanta Hawks with a score of 140-129. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 39 points in that game, and Chet Holmgren added 24 points and 10 rebounds.
In the season, the Thunder’s offense ranks second in points per game with 122.1. They shoot well, with a field goal percentage of 49.4, which is third in the league. Their defense is also solid, allowing only 107.9 points per game, the fewest in the NBA.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the team with 32.2 points per game. Chet Holmgren contributes 18.5 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. The team has some injury concerns, with Isaiah Hartenstein and others currently out.
BTB Betting Pick
The Thunder are favored by 15.5 points against the Trail Blazers. The Thunder have a strong defense, allowing only 107.9 points per game, which is the best in the league. With the Trail Blazers scoring 116.8 points per game and allowing 120.1, the Thunder should cover the spread. The projected score is Thunder 125, Trail Blazers 108.
The total for the game is set at 233.5 points. The Thunder’s defense is solid, and they allow the fewest points in the league. Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers struggle with field goal percentage, ranking 28th. Given these factors, the under is a reasonable pick. The projected total is 233 points.