The Thunder have had a rough patch over the past couple of weeks, but they finally have some relief.

On Wednesday, Oklahoma City defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 109-99 at home on the second night of a back-to-back. The Thunder picked up a much-deserved victory before starting a road trip, but they won’t take the floor again until Monday night in Sacramento.

The four days between Oklahoma City games is the most it will have all season, not counting NBA Cup and All-Star breaks. Considering the chaos of the last few weeks for the Thunder, this break couldn’t have come at a better time.

Perhaps most notable is that it allows a few key players to recover from injuries without feeling the need to rush a game. Isaiah Joe missed the last two games with a calf contusion, and Alex Caruso aggravated his hip injury against Portland.

While their status for the next game is unknown until the injury report is released on Sunday, any extra time they have without missing games is a luxury. Beyond injuries, the break is simply the perfect time for healthy players to rest after having to play over the last few games.

Although Isaiah Hartenstein returned Wednesday, the Thunder had played the previous six games without a center after Chet Holmgren’s injury. With Jalen Williams manning the center position, he held his own in the middle and battled with some of the league’s most physical bigs during this stretch.

However, considering Williams is 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, a return to forward is a welcome sight for the emerging star after being beaten recently. He is also far from the only player who has had to battle inside, making this break a timely opportunity for rest for the entire team.

Of course, this break also helps Oklahoma City prepare for a West Coast road trip. Next week, the Thunder will face the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers.

Facing three tough teams fighting for playoff positioning will be a difficult task, but with a little more time to prepare, this could be a remarkable journey for the Thunder to finish November.

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