The Portland Trail Blazers came up short again Tuesday night, dropping a 110-106 battle to the Orlando Magic at the Moda Center. It’s their second loss in as many days, and while this one had its moments, it followed a familiar script: a slow start, a spirited comeback, and just enough missed opportunities to leave a win on the table.
A Familiar Climb, A Familiar Finish
Portland dug themselves an early hole - again. Orlando jumped out to a double-digit lead behind a red-hot start from rookie guard Anthony Black, who knocked down three triples in the opening five minutes.
That early barrage set the tone and put the Blazers in chase mode all night. And when you're trading twos for threes, the math gets tough in a hurry.
To their credit, the Blazers didn’t fold. They clawed back, showing flashes of resilience and energy, especially in the second half.
But when it came down to crunch time, execution slipped. A few missed assignments, some ill-timed turnovers, and a couple of no-calls that could’ve gone either way - all of it added up to a narrow loss that felt like it could’ve swung the other direction with just a few cleaner possessions.
Caleb Love Steps Up
If there was a bright spot, it was Caleb Love. The rookie guard gave Portland a much-needed jolt off the bench, scoring 17 points in 34 minutes while adding 3 rebounds and 3 blocks.
He was especially impactful late, hitting timely shots and making smart cuts that kept the Blazers within striking distance. His 3-of-8 mark from deep doesn’t jump off the page, but the timing of his buckets mattered more than the percentage.
Love continues to show that he's not afraid of the moment, and on a night when the Blazers were searching for consistent offense, his shot-making stood out.
Shooting Woes Continue
Let’s talk about the elephant in the arena: Portland’s three-point shooting. The Blazers finished just 9-of-32 from beyond the arc - that’s 28%, and it felt even colder than that.
Orlando, meanwhile, shot 15-of-33 from deep, which was the real difference in this game. When you’re down early and can’t find rhythm from long range, it’s tough to string together a comeback.
It’s not just about missing open looks, either. The Blazers’ offense too often stalled out on the perimeter, and when the threes aren’t falling, it puts even more pressure on the guys inside to manufacture points.
Paint Presence, But No Whistle
One area where Portland did thrive was in the paint - they scored 58 points there, attacking the rim with purpose and physicality. But unlike the night before, when they earned 43 trips to the free throw line against Detroit, the whistles were few and far between this time around. Portland attempted just 19 free throws all game.
That wasn’t due to a lack of aggression. The Blazers were getting downhill, initiating contact, and finishing through traffic.
But Orlando played disciplined defense, rarely fouling, and the officials let both teams play through contact for most of the night. The result?
Fewer stoppages, fewer freebies, and a game that demanded shot-making - something Portland just didn’t have enough of.
The Trio’s Mixed Bag
Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, and Toumani Camara combined for 57 points, but it took 54 shots to get there. That trio brought energy and effort, no doubt, but the efficiency just wasn’t there. Only nine of their points came from the line, which speaks to how difficult it was to draw fouls in this one.
Sharpe had some explosive moments, Avdija continued to show his versatility, and Camara’s hustle was evident on both ends. But when you’re trying to overcome a double-digit deficit, you need your primary scorers to be sharp - and on this night, the shots just didn’t fall consistently enough.
The Takeaway
This was a winnable game. The Blazers had chances late, and if a few more threes fall or a couple of calls go their way, we’re probably talking about a gritty comeback win. But instead, it’s another lesson in the fine margins of NBA basketball - where one cold shooting night or a few missed rotations can be the difference between victory and another notch in the loss column.
Portland’s young core continues to show flashes, and there’s no shortage of effort. But until the shooting stabilizes and the execution tightens up in crunch time, these close games will keep slipping away.