The Portland Trail Blazers punched their ticket to the Western Conference play-in tournament Sunday night, taking care of the Sacramento Kings 122-110 at Moda Center and locking down the No. 8 seed. The win keeps Portland’s postseason pulse going at least through Tuesday’s play-in showdown.
Deni Avdija steered the Blazers’ attack with 25 points and 10 assists, Jrue Holiday piled on 23, and rookie big man Donovan Clingan posted 13 points and 11 boards while Scoot Henderson added 15. Matisse Thybulle drilled a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to stretch Portland’s cushion and send the Moda crowd into the break buzzing, as reported by OPB.
Sacramento did not exactly roll over. Precious Achiuwa went for 27 points and 11 rebounds, Nique Clifford poured in 24, and Maxime Raynaud added 21. Even with those numbers, the Kings could not close the gap and finished their season at 22-60. A full game recap and box score are available at ESPN.
How the game unfolded
The opening quarter was a dead heat at 33, but the Blazers found another gear in the second, cranking up the offense to build what turned into a comfortable halftime lead. Sacramento came out of the locker room swinging with an 8-0 run in the third to make things uncomfortable, yet Avdija answered with his fourth 3-pointer of the night and Henderson followed with a three-point play that stopped the surge in its tracks. In the fourth, Portland leaned on free throws to keep the Kings at arm’s length and close out the win, according to the game recap at CBS Sports.
What’s next
Next up, Portland heads to Phoenix to face the seventh-seeded Suns on Tuesday night in the Western Conference play-in. The winner moves on to a first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs, with the stakes and matchups laid out in the Associated Press recap carried by OPB.
Keys in Phoenix
For the Blazers, the blueprint in Phoenix starts with Avdija’s playmaking and continues with controlling the glass and cooling off any Suns 3-point heaters before they get going. If Portland’s defense can force tougher looks and the bench keeps the energy high, this play-in could feel less like a quick cameo and more like the start of a real playoff run.
Moda Center sent Rip City home with cautious optimism, a fan base savoring at least one more meaningful night of basketball. Tuesday’s matchup will be the immediate measuring stick for whether Portland’s late-season push is a real springboard or just a final, spirited stand.
