Anfernee Simons caught fire from deep, scoring 30 points with eight 3-pointers, as the Portland Trail Blazers extended their winning streak to six games with a 108-102 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.
Shaedon Sharpe provided a key spark off the bench with 24 points, helping Portland improve to 23-29 on the season. The Blazers have now won 10 of their last 11 games.
Sacramento (25-26) struggled to contain Portland’s perimeter shooting, losing for the sixth time in its last eight outings despite 22 points each from DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine.
The game remained tight throughout, with neither team holding a double-digit lead at any point. Portland entered halftime with a narrow 54-50 advantage after both teams traded buckets in the first two quarters.
DeRozan briefly put the Kings ahead 91-90 with a jumper and a free throw at the 6:36 mark of the fourth quarter, but Sharpe answered with a 3-pointer to put the Blazers back in front for good.
Portland’s defense tightened down the stretch, limiting Sacramento to just 25 points in the final period while Simons and Sharpe continued to capitalize on their offensive opportunities.
Jerami Grant and Deandre Ayton contributed to the Blazers’ balanced attack, with Ayton adding 18 points and eight rebounds. Scoot Henderson dished out eight assists in 22 minutes off the bench.
Jonas Valančiūnas made his Kings debut after being acquired from the Washington Wizards in a trade Wednesday. He finished with six points and five rebounds in 17 minutes.
LaVine, who arrived in Sacramento via a trade on Sunday, had a solid outing, hitting three triples and shooting 8-of-19 from the field. Malik Monk added 21 points and seven rebounds in the losing effort.
Domantas Sabonis struggled with foul trouble, fouling out after recording 10 points, 14 rebounds, and four assists in just 29 minutes.
