PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oklahoma City Thunder, the NBA's reigning champions and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's showcase, ran into a buzzsaw Tuesday night, getting run off the floor 123-103 by a Portland Trail Blazers team that doesn't carry nearly the same name recognition — but played like it belonged on it.

Gilgeous-Alexander did his part, scoring 26 points on 8-of-22 shooting with eight rebounds, but the rest of the box score told the story of a blowout: Oklahoma City shot just 3-for-14 from three-point range and was outscored on the boards as Portland controlled the game from start to finish. Deni Avdija led the Blazers with 24 points, eight rebounds and three assists, while Toumani Camara added 12 and rookie big man Donovan Clingan chipped in 7 points and 13 rebounds in a dominant all-around effort.

It was the kind of result that will raise eyebrows across the league — a title defense getting run out of its own building margin on the road against a team not currently in playoff position — even if one bad night in an 82-game season rarely means much in the long run.

ONE NIGHT DOESN'T DEFINE A SEASON, BUT IT GETS YOUR ATTENTION.

Oklahoma City wasn't the only marquee team to stumble. Elsewhere around the league Tuesday, the New York Knicks throttled the Milwaukee Bucks 117-85 at home, the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 123-101, the Phoenix Suns ran past the LA Clippers 133-110, the Miami Heat edged the Utah Jazz 115-109, and the Orlando Magic held off the Sacramento Kings 107-100. Six games, six decisive results, and not much drama in the final scores — a rarity for a midweek NBA slate.

For Portland, the win over the champs is a signature moment in a season the Blazers are hoping marks a genuine step forward after years of rebuilding. For Oklahoma City, it's a reminder that even the league's best team isn't immune to a bad shooting night on the road — one they'll look to shake off quickly as the schedule rolls on.