{"id":165885,"date":"2025-11-06T15:34:46","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T20:34:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=165885"},"modified":"2025-11-06T15:34:46","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T20:34:46","slug":"thunder-shuffling-rotation-vs-blazers-dents-historic-start","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/11\/06\/thunder-shuffling-rotation-vs-blazers-dents-historic-start\/","title":{"rendered":"Thunder’s Shuffling Rotation vs Blazers Dents Historic Start"},"content":{"rendered":"

As far as defending champions go, the Oklahoma City Thunder did well to start a franchise record of 8-0<\/a>. Of course, that’s a whole lot impressive considering the fact that they went swinging without their best players. But now that’s finally over, and the Thunder can breathe with less pressure after losing their first game. While they blew a 22-point lead<\/a>, the Thunder’s epic start to the 2025-26 season has always been vulnerable due to their shuffling rotation.<\/p>\n

Injuries take a lot of toll on players, and in turn, it hurts their respective team’s winning chances. That’s, of course, what we’ve seen with the defending champions. Jalen Williams<\/a> is yet to make his season debut<\/a>, Chet Holmgren<\/a> hasn’t resumed his impressive start<\/a>, and many reserves have yet to play as well. It’s sure impressive that OKC continues to win while they’re not at full strength – having seven players out. But it could only last for a while, until they would take a tough loss.<\/p>\n

Thunder’s Shuffling Rotation vs Blazers Dents Historic Start<\/h2>\n

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault is forced to make big adjustments in that regard. That tough ending in the Thunder vs Blazers clash proved to be a point of discussion for some critics<\/a>. Some Portland analysts would even “hang the banner.” But if you’re a Thunder fan who has been following the team for quite some time now, you won’t be surprised by this loss.<\/p>\n

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Thunder lose to the Blazers for the first time since April 3, 2021.<\/p>\n

The #1 movie at the box office was Godzilla vs Kong.<\/p>\n

OKC had beaten Portland 16 straight times.<\/p>\n

— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) November 6, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n