On Friday night against the Charlotte Hornets, the Portland Trail Blazers would have had little reason not to win four straight games for the first time this season.
The Blazers had a hesitant start but finally took care of business, winning 102-97 at the Spectrum Center against a team that had lost five of its top six scorers.
With LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, and Brandon Miller out for the Hornets, the game was a bit too close for comfort.
Blazers coach Chauncey Billups told reporters that it’s a very difficult game to play when a club doesn’t use all of its players. You spend the entire day getting ready for Bridges and LaMelo.
Billups has frequently noted that when opponents are missing important players, a team tends to relax.
Billups advised you to lower your defenses. We have experienced some quite severe losses as a result of it on a few occasions this year.
But not tonight.
The available Hornets shot 6 of 10 from three-point range in the first quarter, building a 12-point lead.
The Blazers made five of eight long-range attempts in the second quarter, drawing to within 54-50 at the intermission.
The Blazers led 61-54 after an 11-0 start to the third quarter. Late in the quarter, however, the Hornets responded with a 16–4 run to regain their lead, 70–65.
Portland made 1 of 11 three-pointers in the fourth quarter, but the Hornets were unable to capitalize. They had a 1 out of 10 score.
With 12 points to help his team take a nine-point lead, Anfernee Simons proved to be the difference in the quarter.
Simons scored a team-high 27 points on 8 of 16 shooting, his third consecutive strong showing. Jerami Grant went 4 of 8 from three-point shooting and scored 22 points.
After missing five games due to an ankle injury, rookie center Donovan Clingan made a comeback and finished with four points, 13 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks in just over 17 minutes.
Nick Smith Jr. scored 17 points to lead the Hornets, who only made 37.6% of their field goals.
In the first half of a basketball game at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, on January 24, 2025, Jerami Grant #9 of the Portland Trail Blazers lays the ball up over KJ Simpson #25 of the Charlotte Hornets. (Image courtesy of Getty Images/David Jensen)Getty Pictures
IMPORTANCE OF IT
After winning their second straight road game for the first time on Thursday night in Orlando, the Trail Blazers (17-28) won their third straight road game for the first time this season.
“We had an amazing trip on both sides of the ball,” Billups remarked.
Portland started the journey on the road 5-16.
The 2022–2023 season began with the Blazers winning four games in a row.
The Hornets (11-30) have the fifth-worst NBA record and are in 13th place in the Eastern Conference.
INJURIES
Robert Williams III sat out due to right hand pain, and Deandre Ayton missed his second straight game due to a knee ailment.
Simons, Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, Grant, and Clingan were started by Billups.
SHARPE AND HENDSON
Both of them stepped off the bench. In 31 minutes, Sharpe recorded 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
In less than twenty-three minutes, Henderson scored two points and provided four assists.
UPCOMING
The Blazers’ seven-game homecoming begins Sunday at 3 p.m. against the Oklahoma City Thunder (36-8).
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Aaron J. Fentress | [email protected]|@AaronJFentress (Facebook), @AaronFentress (Instagram), and @AaronJFentress (Twitter)
