Portland Trail Blazer coach Chauncey Billups tried to end a five-game losing streak and avoid finishing 0–5 on their current home stand after losing one key player and bringing back two others.
The Blazers won 113-102 at the Moda Center by figuring out the correct formula, improving their defense, and producing enough offense.
Before the game, Billups stated that he had benched the third-year guard, Shaedon Sharpe, because to his defensive shortcomings. Despite guard Anfernee Simons’ absence due to an elbow injury, Billups took action.
Scoot Henderson, Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija, Jerami Grant, and Deandre Ayton were all begun by Billups.
Henderson scored 25 points and dished out eight assists to lead the pack. In 33 minutes, Sharpe scored 23 points after coming off the bench.
The Bulls’ poor three-point shooting percentage of 27.6% while making 29 attempts may have been the night’s most important statistic.
The Bulls started the game tied for second place with 16.1 three-pointers, eighth in percentage (37.3%), and second in the NBA in three-point attempts (43.2).
However, the Bulls frequently had to settle for contested threes because the Blazers did a fantastic job blocking open looks.
“I wanted to make sure that we tried to run them off the line as much as possible on every play,” Billups stated. After that, they would simply dispute them when they were shot. They can seriously harm you if you simply let them have open threes.
During the first half at Moda Center on January 19, 2025, in Portland, Oregon, Deni Avdija #8 of the Portland Trail Blazers shoots the ball against Matas Buzelis (L) #14 and Jalen Smith #7 of the Chicago Bulls. (Image courtesy of Getty Images/Soobum Im)Getty Pictures
With a 29% long-range shooting percentage, the Blazers also struggled. However, the Blazers held the Bulls to 15 second-chance points on eight offensive rebounds, while they scored 24 points on 14 offensive rebounds.
Chicago lost to Portland 50-36.
“We won plus-14 on the glass tonight because we had Deni and DA back,” Billups stated. We are allowed to say that because we don’t visit here frequently.
The Blazers scored 17 fastbreak points as a result of their rebounding, while the Bulls only managed six.
“We’re pretty tough to play against when we can get out and get our guys going and play fast and move the basketball,” Billups stated.
It was a bad start for the starters. In the first quarter, the Blazers were behind by fifteen points. However, after Henderson and Grant made consecutive three-pointers with 3:26 remaining in the second quarter, they rallied to knot the score at 45-45.
The Bulls shot 3 of 18 from three-point range (16.7%), which helped them reach the halftime score of 53-53.
After Avdija scored 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting in the third quarter, the Blazers regained control of the game and Portland led 87-77 going into the fourth quarter.
The Bulls never came back after the Blazers took a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter.
On January 19, 2025, in Portland, Oregon, Shaedon Sharpe #17 of the Portland Trail Blazers dribbles the ball against Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Chicago Bulls during the first half at Moda Center. (Image courtesy of Getty Images/Soobum Im)Getty Pictures
The Bulls were led by guard Zach LaVine, who scored 27 points, and center Nikola Vucevic, who finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. However, they were unable to enable the Bulls defeat the Blazers’ enhanced defense, which was strengthened by Avdija’s return.
We were fantastic, I think defensively, Billups remarked. We fought everything and rushed about. We attempted to stop them even when they were dribbling. They play so quickly and are difficult to defend. They turn against you. They move. Simply put, they’re difficult to play against.
IMPORTANCE OF IT
After losing the first four games, the Blazers (14-28) managed to end their home stand with a win, avoiding matching their longest losing streak of the season (six).
Despite dropping their fifth straight game, the Bulls (19-24) were still ranked 10th in the Eastern Conference.
The Blazers are then driven by a good attitude as they travel for three games, beginning Tuesday night against the Miami Heat.
“We stopped the bleeding,” Sharpe replied, as Chauncey always says. This spirit must be carried over to Miami and the other games.
INJURIES
Simons suffered an elbow injury during the Houston Rockets game on Saturday night. The Blazers would rather not have Robert Williams III play on consecutive nights, so he took a break.
UPCOMING
The Blazers will play the Miami Heat (21–20) at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday to begin a three-game trip. The Heat defeated the Blazers 119-98 to start their home stand.
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Aaron J. Fentress | [email protected]|@AaronJFentress (Facebook), @AaronFentress (Instagram), and @AaronJFentress (Twitter)
