Trail Blazers Triumph Over Hawks with Simons and Ayton Leading the Charge
In Portland, Anfernee Simons led the Trail Blazers with 36 points, helping secure a 106-102 victory against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. DeAndre Ayton also shone, achieving a season-high 33 points and grabbing 19 rebounds for Portland, which had struggled in recent games, losing four out of five.
Murray’s Stellar Performance for the Hawks
Meanwhile, Dejounte Murray put up an impressive 40 points for the Hawks, falling just short of his season high, as they embarked on a challenging 11-day, five-game road trip, their lengthiest of the season.
Blazers Overcome Early Deficit
Initially trailing by 16 points in the first half, the Blazers managed to narrow the gap during the third quarter and entered the final period leading 82-75. Despite the Hawks closing in at 95-91 with Murray’s 3-pointer, a crucial 3-pointer from Simons extended Portland’s lead to 99-93.
Intense Final Minutes
However, Capela’s dunk and layup cut the deficit to 101-97. With 1:22 remaining, Murray’s layup further narrowed the margin. Although Simons missed a floater, Thybulle’s block on Bogdanovic prevented the Hawks from taking the lead. Simons then sealed the victory with free throws, securing a four-point lead with 22.2 seconds left.
Clutch Play from Ayton Secures Win
With Murray’s clutch 3-pointer bringing Atlanta within one point at 103-102 with 17.1 seconds remaining, Ayton managed to convert the first of two free throws. Portland then maintained their lead, ultimately securing the victory.
Injuries and Absences Impact Both Teams
The Hawks have faced a string of injuries, with the most recent being Saddiq Bey, who suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during Sunday night’s 116-103 loss to New Orleans. Bey, in his second season with the Hawks, was averaging 13.7 points and 6.5 rebounds before the injury.
Despite an illness announced earlier in the day, Bogdan Bogdanovic still played for Atlanta. However, Jalen Johnson was sidelined with a sprained right ankle.
On the other side, Jerami Grant was out for Portland due to a sore right hamstring, adding to the list of absent Trail Blazers that included Malcolm Brogdon (right elbow) and Shaedon Sharpe (abdominal surgery). Additionally, rookie Scott Henderson was under a minutes restriction.
Homestand Conclusion for the Trail Blazers
The Blazers were concluding a six-game homestand with back-to-back games against the Hawks and the New York Knicks on Thursday night.
Hawks Surge Early, Blazers Fight Back
Atlanta surged ahead with a 15-0 run in the first half, capped by De’Andre Hunter’s layup, giving the Hawks a commanding 33-17 lead. However, Anfernee Simons’ timely 3-pointer narrowed the gap to 52-47 by halftime.
Murray Leads First-Half Scoring
Murray led all scorers in the first half with 24 points, shooting an impressive 10 of 13 from the field. He connected on four 3-pointers and ended the game with a total of six.
Portland fought back in the third quarter, with Dalano Banton’s 3-pointer bringing them within striking distance at 58-57. The Trail Blazers then seized the lead on a jumper by DeAndre Ayton.