Chris Paul goes for 30 as Thunder thump Trail Blazers

Paul scored 21 of his 30 points in the first quarter as OKC capped their three-game homestand with a 119-106 win.

Chris Paul showed up on Saturday night as a short-handed Thunder squad thumped the Portland Trail Blazers.

Paul tied his season-high with 30 points in the 119-106 win, on 11-of-15 shooting, including hitting 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Twenty-one of his points came in the first half.

Only Damian Lillard had more, scoring a game-high 34.

Three other players were in double-digits for the Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 to go along with 10 rebounds for a double-double, while both Nerlens Noel and Dennis Schroder scored 15 apiece.

Steven Adams made his return to the starting lineup after Friday’s game with a right knee contusion. He scored five points in 34 minutes.

Oklahoma City was without two of its starters on Saturday. Danilo Gallinari and Terrance Ferguson did not play, Gallinari due to rest and Ferguson due to illness.

Abdel Nader was also held out. He missed his third straight game with a sprained left ankle, an injury he suffered in Monday’s win over the Timberwolves.

Justin Patton was a late scratch due to illness, although there was no word if it is the same illness that Ferguson is dealing with.

Saturday night was the final regular-season matchup between the two teams, splitting the four games this year 2-2.

After dropping the first two games of their homestand, the Thunder capped off the three-game set with a win.

OKC heads back out on the road to take the Rockets on Monday.