THE Portland Path Blazers ended their journey to seven video games with a file of 4-3 greater than respectable.
The one disappointing second got here when he blew an opportunity to win a victory on Friday at Oklahoma Metropolis, who was sitting on his 5 starters.
However to be honest, this recreation considered being a loss when the journey began on February 24.
“I assumed it was an excellent journey to us besides tonight’s match,” mentioned Blazers coach Chauncey Billups informed journalists after the Blazers misplaced 107-89 in opposition to the Thunder. “We had the possibility to win each match.”
The 4 Blazers victories got here in opposition to a number of the worst groups from the UTAH NBA (15-48), Brooklyn (21-41), Washington (12-49) and Philadelphia (21-41).
Nonetheless, profitable any street recreation is tough. The Blazers are 12-22 from the Moda Middle.
The Blazers misplaced 133-129 in additional time in Cleveland (53-10), which seated All-Star Donovan Mitchell. The second defeat occurred 128-118 in Boston (45-18). Then got here the Thunder defeat (52-11).
“We knew that it will be a very tough journey to play in opposition to tough groups, particularly on the finish of the journey,” mentioned Billups.
Naturally, the Blazers appeared to lack fuel within the seventh recreation of a protracted journey.
“It was the one recreation of the journey I’d say that now we have by no means actually given ourselves an actual probability when it comes to our struggle and the way we paid consideration to particulars,” mentioned Billups.
However Billups was not prepared to simply accept excuses.
“I do not consider it,” he mentioned. “It was only a basketball recreation. It is not like we have been enjoying final night time. We have been prepared to go away. I don’t blame him on apologies. It is like that. You need to play the sport. And I assumed we ready ourselves fairly effectively and that we didn’t exit and that we didn’t exit. »»
A number of constructive factors occurred throughout the journey:
Shaedon Sharpe shone: Sharpe had his greatest part of the season, with a median of twenty-two.1 factors and 5.7 rebounds whereas pulling 49.2% within the subject and 34.8% of the seashore of three factors. He scored a 36 -point profession summit within the Wizards and had a profession summit of 11 rebounds on the 76ers.
Scoot Henderson # 00 of the Portland Path Blazers goes to the basket throughout the first quarter in opposition to Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on the Paycc Middle on March 7, 2025 at Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma. (Photograph by William Purnell / Getty Photographs)Getty pictures
Henderson scoot delivered: The safeguard chief carried out effectively in a reserve function, with a median of 14.6 factors and 5.0 assists. Its capturing fell just a little from its earlier race at 42.9% of the land and 36.8% past the arc. However these figures have been strong and appear to have grow to be its soil.
Duop Reath and Jabari Walker answered the decision: The accidents to Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III meant extra minutes for Reath and Walker. The 2 got here with a coherent recreation that solely strengthened the general depth of the crew.
Reath noticed not less than 18 minutes of motion in three video games and on common 9.3 factors and 4.3 rebounds whereas pulling 10 out of 18 on the sector (55.6%) and 6 out of three (46.2%).
Walker, in seven video games, raised a median of 8.0 factors with 4.6 rebounds and fired like an All-Star. He carried out 61.1% of his makes an attempt on the subject and 50% of the three -point seashore. He struck the six three -point makes an attempt in defeat in Boston, be a part of a particular checklist of Blazers for having shot completely with not less than six manufacturers.
Extra: Deni Avdija had his first profession in profession in Cleveland, Toumani Camara continued to lock opposing scorers and Donovan Clingan has a median of seven.1 factors and 9.0 rebounds.
Recreation chase
The Blazers stay 4 video games behind Dallas from tenth place (32-32) and 1½ behind Phoenix from eleventh place (29-34). Working each is feasible, particularly after the Mavericks misplaced Kyrie Irving (knee) for the season.
However Portland should defeat the profitable groups. This has not occurred since February 6 (Sacramento). Blazers have one of the vital tough occasions within the league.
They play eight of their subsequent 9 at dwelling, from Sunday with the Pistons de Detroit. Portland performs on Monday in Golden State, then faces a piece of seven video games which presents matches with Memphis (39-24), Denver (41-22), Boston and Cleveland.
A 5 recreation journey follows. But it surely’s on the backside of the street. For the second, the Blazers are simply comfortable to come back again to play Moda Middle for many of the subsequent two weeks.
“We are able to lastly go dwelling,” mentioned Billups. “At the very least for a day … We’re all enthusiastic about this.”
– Aaron Fentress | [email protected] | @AaronjFentress (Twitter), @AaronjFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Fb)
