The Portland Trail Blazers kept the good times rolling Friday night, outlasting the Sacramento Kings 128-120 at Golden 1 Center to move to 2-0. It’s the first time since the 2022-23 season the Blazers have started 2-0, and only the fourth time that’s happened in the last 15 seasons.
This one wasn’t clean, and Portland had to work for it. Sacramento controlled the first half, building a lead as big as 12 points while Donovan Clingan dealt with foul trouble, the Blazers misfired from deep and the Kings pushed the tempo.
Portland didn’t grab its first lead until Deni Avdija powered in a driving dunk with 9:59 left in the third quarter. Even then, the Blazers still had to survive a late push before closing things out in clutch time.
That grind is part of the story, because Friday also showed exactly why Portland has been talking up its roster depth since media day. Seven Blazers scored in double figures, and eight different players handed out assists.
The team’s contributions came in waves. Rob Williams kept Portland afloat early with a team-high nine first-quarter points.
In the next quarter, Sidy Cissoko stepped in with 10 points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal to help trim the gap to 64-59. After that, the Blazers’ top options took over.
Deni Avdija led the way with 26 points, and 18 of those came after halftime. Toumani Camara added 16 points while hitting 4 of 5 from three.
Damian Lillard scored 11 points, and Ja Morant finished with nine points and three assists. All 10 Blazers who played left their mark on the game in some way, and that balance carried them through a night when the offense wasn’t clicking smoothly.
There’s also the reality check that comes with winning away from home. The Moda Center crowd was watching from home on BlazerVision, and the comforts of opening night were gone.
Portland got the result, but the performance was far from effortless. Sacramento kept it tight late, and after rookie Darius Acuff Jr. drilled a three with 4:51 left, the Blazers’ lead had been cut to 118-113.
From there, Portland answered enough times to finish it. Clingan came through with a crucial tip-in, Avdija and Lillard knocked down key free throws, and the defense - with Camara in the middle of it - made the stops needed to hold off the Kings. Micah Nori said his team would improve in the clutch when he took over, and the Blazers backed that up on Friday.
It won’t get easier soon, either. Six of Portland’s first eight games, and 12 of its first 17, are on the road. For now, though, the Blazers have the kind of road win that shows both resilience and room to grow.
In Other News...
Blazers Just Proved They Can Win Without Relying On One Star
The Trail Blazers first road win of the season came with a little of everything, including early foul trouble, a first-quarter hole and a needed response from the bench and supporting cast. Portland outlasted the Sacramento Kings 128-120 to move to 2-0, and the victory felt as much about the group around the lineup as it did about any single name on the floor.
Sidy Cissoko, Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara all helped steady things while Damian Lillard added his own impact, giving Portland the kind of balanced night that can travel. Coach Micah Nori pointed to the teams depth and collective effort afterward, and for a young season, that may be the most encouraging part for a Blazers team trying to show it can win without leaning too heavily on one star. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Built A Dangerous Backcourt But One Concern Still Looms
The Trail Blazers went into the offseason with one clear priority: reshape the backcourt and raise the ceiling. By adding Ja Morant to a group that already includes Damian Lillard, Scoot Henderson and Jrue Holiday, Portland suddenly has the kind of guard rotation that can pressure defenses from multiple angles, while Shaedon Sharpes expected absence for most of the season leaves the team with one less explosive piece available early on.
There is real intrigue here because the talent level is obvious enough to make Portland a fringe playoff contender in the eyes of sportsbooks, and some around the league believe a postseason push is a realistic target for 2026-27. Still, the Blazers are carrying the same question that follows every heavily remade roster: whether the chemistry comes together quickly enough, and whether the health of the key pieces holds long enough for all that depth and defensive potential to matter. [Read more 🡒]