SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Azat TV) – Deni Avdija delivered a stellar performance with 26 points, six rebounds, and six assists, anchoring the Portland Trail Blazers in a 128-120 road victory against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night. According to reporting by the Associated Press, the win lifts the Trail Blazers to an undefeated 2-0 start to the NBA season, while spoiling the Kings’ home opener at Golden 1 Center.
Portland had to overcome a slow start that saw Sacramento build a 12-point advantage in the opening quarter. Zach LaVine sank three free throws midway through the frame to establish the early cushion, and the Kings maintained control to take a 64-59 lead into halftime. Rookie Darius Acuff Jr. added a game-high 33 points for Sacramento, while Domantas Sabonis recorded a massive triple-double with 27 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists.
The Pivotal Third-Quarter Surge
The momentum shifted dramatically after intermission. The Trail Blazers exploded out of the locker room with a dominant 15-0 run to open the third period, capped by a 3-pointer from Toumani Camara that seized a 74-64 lead. Portland’s perimeter shooting proved lethal during the frame; after converting just 4 of 22 attempts from beyond the arc in the first half, the visitors caught fire by hitting 8 of 19 shots from distance in the third quarter alone.
Camara and Damian Lillard each contributed 19 points to support Avdija’s offensive engine, ensuring that Portland maintained scoring balance even as Sacramento’s defense scrambled to adjust. The offensive outburst allowed the Trail Blazers to construct a double-digit cushion that would prove decisive as the game entered its final stretch.
Depth scoring further solidified Portland’s advantage throughout the first half and beyond. Sidy Cissoko contributed 15 points entirely before intermission, while Robert Williams III added 13 points inside. Backcourt contributors Ja Morant and Jrue Holiday chipped in 12 points apiece, giving the Trail Blazers multiple options to puncture Sacramento’s defensive schemes. Meanwhile, Zach LaVine finished with 22 points for the hosts, and Precious Achiuwa provided 14 points off the bench, but the home team struggled to contain the cascading momentum of Portland’s perimeter attack after the break.
Holding Off Sacramento’s Late Push
Despite falling behind, the Kings mounted a serious rally in the fourth quarter. Sacramento carved the deficit down to 121-118 when Sabonis drained a clutch 3-pointer with 3:21 remaining on the clock, energizing the home crowd and putting pressure on Portland’s defense.
However, the Trail Blazers executed down the stretch. A crucial late basket and two free throws from Donovan Clingan, followed by an insurance free throw from Avdija with 43.5 seconds left, extinguished the comeback threat and secured the 128-120 final score. The victory validates Portland’s early rotation depth following their season-opening win over Phoenix.
Looking Ahead
With the road victory secured, the Trail Blazers turn their attention to a high-profile matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Kings look to rebound from their 0-2 start when they host the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.