The Trail Blazers looked like they were starting to turn a corner. A three-game win streak had them climbing into play-in territory, and for a moment, it felt like the season might finally be taking shape.
But just as quickly as momentum arrived, it vanished. Back-to-back losses at home have dropped Portland to 12-18, clinging to the 10th seed in the Western Conference by just a half-game over Dallas.
This was supposed to be a year of progress - a chance to build on last season’s promising second-half surge. Instead, it's been a season marred by off-court turmoil and on-court setbacks.
Head coach Chauncey Billups’ arrest on federal charges back in October cast a shadow over the early part of the campaign. And injuries have chipped away at the roster ever since.
Portland’s injury report continues to read like a list of key contributors: Jrue Holiday (calf), Matisse Thybulle (thumb), and Scoot Henderson (hamstring) remain sidelined, with no clear timeline for their returns. That’s left the Blazers shorthanded - and it’s showing in the clutch.
After Tuesday night’s loss to Orlando, Portland has now dropped 11 games defined as “clutch-time” losses - games within five points in the final five minutes. That’s tied for the second-most in the league.
In other words, they’re close - but not closing.
Despite the frustration, interim head coach Tiago Splitter is preaching unity and resilience. He’s standing by his group, and his players are backing him up.
“We have a great group of guys,” said forward Deni Avdija. “They’re very strong mentally.
And I think our team camaraderie is really good. We’re getting along, we’re communicating, and our chemistry is amazing.
It’s one of the best chemistry teams I’ve been on in a while. And as you see, we just continue to fight.
We’re not going to back off. This is our identity.
We believe in each other, and we believe in ourselves as a team. It’s only going to make us better.”
That kind of locker room resolve won’t fix the injury list or erase the losses, but it does speak to the Blazers’ mindset - they’re not folding. They’re still swinging.
Around the Northwest:
**Jerami Grant’s trade watch on pause - for now. **
Jerami Grant, one of Portland’s top trade assets heading into the deadline, has now missed three straight games. And there’s a subtle but notable shift in how the team is labeling his absence - what was once “Achilles soreness” is now “Achilles tendonitis.”
It’s a small change in terminology, but it could signal a longer recovery timeline or a more cautious approach from the team. Either way, it complicates any potential trade discussions in the short term.
**Thunder urged to stay the course. **
Oklahoma City has hit a bit of a speed bump, dropping three of their last five after an eye-popping 24-1 start. But the message from inside the organization - and from some analysts - is clear: don’t panic.
The Thunder have built something special with this young core, and there’s a strong argument to be made for standing pat at the trade deadline. The internal growth is real - Ajay Mitchell continues adjusting to his expanded role, and Jalen Williams is still working his way back to full form after wrist surgery.
Sometimes, the best move is no move at all.
**Brown vs. Durant: Former teammates, current rivals.
**
Things got heated between Bruce Brown and Kevin Durant during Saturday’s matchup between the Nuggets and Rockets.
The two, who once shared the court in Brooklyn, exchanged words during the game and kept the tension going afterward.
“Some words were said that’s a little disrespectful,” Brown said postgame. “I can’t wait to see him next time. As a man, there’s certain things you don’t say to another man.”
Durant, never one to back down from a verbal exchange, didn’t mince words either.
“I definitely wanted to cross the line tonight,” he said with a grin. “That’s basketball.
That’s in between the lines. Ain’t no respect.
Ain’t no love. Nothing.
People don’t show love to me. They cross the line a lot with their physicality.
It’s just part of the game. Some people can talk and play.
Some people can’t. I had to learn how to talk and play as a player.
So I think Bruce is probably learning the same thing.”
It’s the kind of fire you expect when competitive pride and personal history collide. And if the NBA schedule gives us another Brown vs. Durant showdown this season, you can bet the intensity will be dialed up even higher.
Bottom line: The Blazers are battling through adversity, the Thunder are being urged to trust the process, and the Nuggets-Rockets rivalry just got a little more personal. The Northwest Division is anything but dull right now.