The Portland Trail Blazers didn’t need a solo act to handle Denver on Thursday. They rolled out a 10-man summer league group and got a full-team answer, beating the Nuggets 108-101 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Seven Blazers finished in double figures, including all five starters, and Portland piled up 30 assists to Denver’s 15. That kind of ball movement powered a win that looked far more connected than chaotic, with three invitees - Frankie Fidler, Quincy Olivari and Flynn Cameron - tying for the team lead at 16 points apiece.
Portland moved to 2-2 with the victory. The Blazers already knew their summer league run would end Friday no matter what happened against Denver, while the Nuggets needed a win by at least 14 points to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Mark Sears gave Denver an early jolt, scoring 18 points in the first half while matching up with Portland two-way guard Chris Youngblood. The two were teammates at Alabama during the 2024-25 season, when the Crimson Tide reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament.
Yang Hansen kept making his presence felt for Portland, especially after halftime. He finished with 13 points in 26 minutes and scored in double figures for the third summer league game. His size and activity helped create chances for himself and for others as the Blazers kept control.
Portland also found its rhythm from deep. The Blazers shot better than 50% from 3-point range in the third quarter and finished the night at 44%, a sharp turn from their first summer league game, when they hit just 19% from beyond the arc.
The Blazers close out summer league Friday against the Utah Jazz, with tipoff set for 7:30 p.m. at the Pavilion.
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The issue is less about Hansens long-term talent than the reality around him. Portland has multiple centers ahead of him in the rotation picture, and with the Blazers trying to push toward the postseason, every developmental minute comes with a cost. That is why his name is already surfacing in trade discussion, with the front office facing an early call on whether to keep investing in his growth or turn a crowded frontcourt into a more immediate roster fit. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Summer League Finish Raised One Frustrating Question About This Young Core
The Blazers Summer League finale ended with a familiar kind of frustration, the sort that can linger even in July. Portland fell 83-79 to Utah at Cox Pavilion after a second-half push made the game feel there for the taking, with Jalen Bridges leading the way with 16 points as the Blazers tried to claw back from a double-digit hole.
Portland erased a 15-point deficit and briefly moved in front twice in the fourth quarter, only to come up short when the Jazz steadied themselves late. For a young roster still trying to sort out who can create, who can finish and who can handle pressure possessions, the ending offered one more reminder that the talent is intriguing, but the answers are still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]