Ayton has averaged 24.2 points and 15.3 rebounds per game since the All-Star break.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Deandre Ayton had a season-high 33 points and 19 rebounds and the Portland Trail Blazers On Wednesday night, the Atlanta Hawks held on to win 106-102.
Anfernee Simons added 36 points for Portland, which had lost four of its last five games. It was Ayton’s sixth consecutive double-double.
Over the last 16 games, Ayton has averaged 20 points and 12.4 rebounds while shooting 63% from the field. He has been particularly good since the All-Star break, averaging 24.2 points and 15.3 rebounds. This comes after a slow start to his first season in Portland, where he averaged 12.5 points and 10.3 rebounds while shooting 53 percent from the field in his first 27 games with the Blazers.
“Coming into these games, I try to do everything,” Ayton said. “Not just my requirement, my role for this team, but doing much more. And that’s where I am. I’m more dominant.”
Dejounte Murray had 40 points, one shy of his season high, for the Hawks in the first of an 11-day, five-game road trip, the team’s longest of the season.
The Blazers trailed by 16 points in the first half, but closed the gap in the third quarter and led 82-75 heading into the final period.
The Hawks pulled within 95-91 on Murray’s 3-pointer. Simons’ 3 gave Portland a 99-93 advantage, but Clint Capela responded with a dunk and layup to make it 101-97.
After Murray’s layup for Atlanta with 1:22 left, Simons missed a floater. Matisse Thybulle blocked Bogdan Bogdanovic at the other end, keeping Portland in front, and Simons made free throws with 22.2 seconds left to make it a four-point game.
Murray’s 3-pointer put Atlanta within 103-102 with 17.1 seconds remaining. Ayton made the first of two free throws and Portland held on for the win.
“Whether I’m like the bad guy or not, I’m trying to be great. I’m trying to be a winner in this league. I’m trying to be known as that guy,” Ayton said. You’re around me, you’re going to learn to win.”
POST-GAME INTERVIEW: Deandre Ayton
The Hawks have been hit by injuries. The latest was Saddiq Bey, who tore the ACL in his left knee during Sunday night’s 116-103 loss to New Orleans. In his second season with the Hawk, Bey averaged 13.7 points and 6.5 rebounds.
Bogdan Bogdanovic played for Atlanta despite an illness announced earlier in the day, and he finished 3 of 15 from the field with eight points and seven rebounds. Jalen Johnson was out with a sprained right ankle.
Hawks coach Quin Snyder said that in the third quarter, the Blazers were able to score from 3-point range, while Ayton made mid-range jumpers and contested shots. Simons finished with five 3s.
“It was obviously a tough loss, we played really well in the game,” Snyder said. “You knew they were going to find a rhythm and start making some shots, and they made a lot of them.”
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: Blazers beat Hawks 106-102
For Portland, Jerami Grant was out with right hamstring soreness, joining a list of Trail Blazers absentees that included Malcolm Brogdon (right elbow) and Shaedon Sharpe (abdominal surgery). Rookie Scott Henderson was on a minutes restriction and played just 17 minutes.
The Blazers finished a six-game homestand with back-to-back games against the Hawks and New York Knicks on Thursday night.
De’Andre Hunter’s layup capped a 15-0 first-half run that gave the Hawks a 33-17 lead. Simons scored a 3-pointer that cut the lead to 52-47 at halftime.
Murray led all scorers in the first half with 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting. He made four 3-pointers and finished with six.
Dalano Banton’s 3-pointer pulled Portland within 58-57 in the third quarter and the Blazers took the lead moments later on Ayton’s jumper.
“We weren’t crazy about our first half, we weren’t crazy about our start. But we talked about it at halftime, we looked at some things and we stuck with them,” said l Blazers coach Chauncey Billups. “The physicality, our defensive awareness got better and offensively we were able to rebound and kind of run and get free a little bit.”
Hawks: Visit the Jazz on Friday night.
Trail Blazers: Host the Knicks Thursday night.
KGW staff contributed to this report.
