PORTLAND, Oregon – – Damian Lillard had 44 factors, together with 10 in a row at a key level within the streak, to provide the Portland Path Blazers a 123-119 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday evening.
Enes Kanter added 22 factors and 21 rebounds for the Blazers, who’ve gained three straight wins and are 21-14 heading into the All-Star break. It is the Blazers’ finest begin with 35 video games since 2015.
Lillard stated the distinction within the first half was that the crew by no means fell aside after CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic had been injured.
“When CJ and Nurk fell, we simply stated, ‘Do not feel sorry for ourselves. Let’s present up and get the job achieved. Let’s come collectively, lean on one another, depend on one another and discover a solution to do it. And we did it, ”stated Lillard.
De’Aaron Fox had 32 factors, 12 assists and eight rebounds for Sacramento, which had six gamers scoring in double digits.
Richaun Holmes dived to provide the Kings a 103-98 lead with 5:41 left, however Lillard responded with a 3-pointer and Kanter’s layup tied him at 103.
Sacramento climbed 108-103 with 3:49 to go on the Harrison Barnes and Buddy Hield 3 layup. Lillard responded with a pull-up pull, layup and pair of three runs in fast succession for placing the Blazers forward 115-108 with simply over a minute left.
Sacramento wasn’t fairly completed, taking pictures 119-118 on a 3-point with 6.6 seconds left. After Gary Trent Jr. made two free throws for the Blazers, Fox hit one after which appeared to deliberately miss the second. After checking to see if the ball hit the rim, Portland recovered the ball with 3.7 seconds left and Lillard was fouled to shut it.
Lillard completed with eight 3 factors.
“Total it was a extremely, actually robust recreation to play due to their fashion of play, they push the ball, they get to the paint,” stated Blazers coach Terry Stotts. “We had a tough time bouncing the ball. In some methods it was type of like our earlier recreation the place we simply held on, performed a number of video games on the finish.
The 2 groups had been additionally taking part in the second recreation in a row earlier than the All-Star break.
The Kings had gained two of their final three video games after a nine-game dropping streak. Sacramento was nonetheless with out reigning NBA Rookie of the Month Tyrese Haliburton, who missed his fourth recreation with a calf damage.
“We do not wish to win ethical victories. We wished to win tonight and we did not, “stated Harrison Barnes, who completed with 17 factors.” Some calls weren’t made in our path, some photographs had been unsuccessful. “
Nemanja Bjelica’s 3-point pointer gave the Kings a 21-16 lead. Lillard’s 3 on the finish of the primary quarter put Portland on 28-27, and the All-Star had 15 factors on the finish of the interval.
“Dame is a superb participant. He had it there, ”Barnes stated. “We tried to throw him a bunch of various blankets, however we could not contact him with the way in which the whistle was going tonight. Dame will rating however you must restrict the remainder of the crew.
TIP INS
Kings: Hield was questionable for Sacramento with a sprained proper ankle however he began. He had 29 factors towards the Lakers on Wednesday.
Path Blazers: The sport was delayed for some time within the second quarter when the taking pictures clocks at Moda Middle went off. … Portland has gained 5 straight wins towards the Kings.
HELP ON THE WAY
The Path Blazers introduced that McCollum, who had come out with a fractured left foot, was cleared for contact coaching. McCollum has been out since Jan. 16 when he injured his foot in a recreation towards Atlanta.
McCollum, who was averaging 26.7 factors earlier than being injured, would be the key to Portland’s playoff push.
The Blazers additionally stated Nurkic continues to rehabilitate his fractured proper wrist and might be evaluated subsequent week.
FOLLOWING
The Kings host the Houston Rockets subsequent Thursday after the All-Star break.
The Blazers host the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.
——