After 8 Straight Wins, NBA Champions Fall for the First Time

After opening the new season with eight consecutive victories, the defending NBA champions Oklahoma City Thunder suffered their first loss of the campaign — a 119-121 defeat to the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA regular season.

Portland mounted an impressive comeback after trailing by 22 points to hand the Thunder their first defeat of the year, despite another stellar performance from Canadian star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who tallied 35 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists.

In another marquee matchup between two of Europe’s brightest stars, Luka Dončić led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 118-116 victory over the San Antonio Spurs and their French phenom Victor Wembanyama.

Wembanyama was held to 19 points before fouling out with six personal fouls, while Dončić recorded a dazzling 35-point triple-double, adding 9 rebounds and 13 assists.

“They’ve got an incredible team,” Dončić said after the game. “They’ve only lost one other time, so to come back and win without (Austin Reaves) and LeBron is unbelievable.”

Jokić — the Triple-Double King

Serbian superstar Nikola Jokić delivered yet another masterclass, posting a 33-point, 15-rebound, 16-assist triple-double to lead the Denver Nuggets past the Miami Heat 122-112.

It marked his fifth triple-double in seven games this season. For the Heat, Norman Powell scored 23 points, but Miami suffered a setback as Bam Adebayo exited early with a foot injury.

Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets finally broke their seven-game losing streak, earning their first win of the season with a 112-103 triumph over the struggling Indiana Pacers.

Returning from personal leave, Michael Porter Jr. led the charge with 32 points and 11 rebounds, one of five Nets players to score in double figures. Nic Claxton added 18 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks in a dominant all-around performance.

For the Pacers, Pascal Siakam registered 23 points and 10 assists, as the team exploded for 41 points in the second quarter and led 59-54 at halftime in what proved to be a tightly contested matchup with several lead changes.

At the iconic Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks erupted for 83 second-half points to blow out the Minnesota Timberwolves 137-114, spoiling the return of star guard Anthony Edwards, who was back in action after missing four games with a knee injury.

In Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell exploded for 46 points to propel the Cavaliers past the Philadelphia 76ers 132-121.

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