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Posts tagged as “Portland”

Trail Blazers defeats Spurs to even Series (106 – 103)

April 22, 2026

The Portland Trail Blazers closed the game on a 16–4 run over the final five minutes to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 106–103 and even the series at 1–1.

9 Lead Changes | Tied 9x

Trail Blazers
Scoot Henderson – 31 PTS (11-17 FG) | 5 3PM
Jrue Holiday – 16 PTS (6-17 FG) | 5 REB | 9 AST
FG: 38-89 (42.7%) | 3P: 13-38 (34.2%)
REB: 43 | AST: 18 | STL: 8 | BLK: 10

Spurs
Stephon Castle – 18 PTS (7-20 FG) | 8 REB | 5 AST
De’Aaron Fox – 17 PTS (6-16 FG) | 4 AST | 3 STL
FG: 38-86 (44.2%) | 3P: 7-24 (29.2%)
REB: 45 | AST: 19 | STL: 13 | BLK: 5

Trail Blazers – Bench: 26 | Paint: 40 | 2ndPTS: 23 | PTSTO: 24
Spurs

Real talk! The Blazers would not have won if Wemby hadn’t fallen to the ground and exited with a concussion. Even without Wemby, the Spurs still managed to build a 14-point lead (93–79) with eight and a half minutes left in the game; however, Portland went on a 27–10 run to close the game with a win.

Here’s a clip of that nasty Victor Wembanyama fall resulting in a concussion.

Game 3 of the first-round playoffs will now shift to Portland. We’ll see how San Antonio adjusts their game, especially if Victor Wembanyama is on limited playing time.

Spurs defeats Trail Blazers as Wembanyama Makes History in Playoff Debut (111 – 98)

April 20, 2026

The San Antonio Spurs officially ended their six-season postseason drought with a commanding 111-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round Playoffs.

Victor Wembanyama stole the show in his playoff debut, exploding for 35 points, breaking Tim Duncan’s franchise record for a postseason opener. Supported by Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox, who added 17 points each, with 7 and 8 assists, respectively. The Spurs led throughout at a raucous Frost Bank Center. Despite a valiant 30-point effort from Portland’s Deni Avdija, the Blazers struggled to contain San Antonio’s length and defensive efficiency. The Spurs now hold a 1-0 series lead heading into Game 2.

Game highlights;

Ionescu, Plum, and Mitchell Among Stars “Cored” for 2026 WNBA

April 8, 2026

Alexa Philippou, writing for ESPN;

Ten of 15 WNBA teams have extended core qualifying offers to players since free agency started Monday.

Players who have been “cored” — akin to being given the NFL’s franchise tag — include Sabrina Ionescu, by the New York Liberty; Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx); Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever); Kelsey Plum, (Los Angeles Sparks); and Arike Ogunbowale (Dallas Wings).

The core designation gives a team exclusive negotiating rights to a player and comes with a baseline contract of a fully guaranteed one-year deal worth the supermax ($1.4 million in 2026), though the player can negotiate different terms.

Here’s the full list of cored players, via @alexaphilippou

  • Atlanta: Allisha Gray
  • Chicago: Ariel Atkins
  • Dallas: Arike Ogunbowale
  • Indiana: Kelsey Mitchell
  • LA: Kelsey Plum
  • Minnesota: Napheesa Collier
  • NY: Sabrina Ionescu
  • Portland: Bridget Carleton
  • Seattle: Ezi Magbegor
  • Toronto: Marina Mabrey

Full list of players selected in the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft

April 5, 2026

The 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft took place on April 3, 2026, for the league’s two newest franchises: the Portland Fire and the Toronto Tempo. Each team selected 11 players from the unprotected lists of the existing 13 WNBA teams. Notably, both teams reached agreements with the Chicago Sky to bypass their roster in exchange for draft picks.

Portland Fire Selections
The Fire held the No. 1 overall pick and focused on a mix of versatile forwards and young international talent.

Player Position Former Team
Bridget Carleton Forward Minnesota Lynx
Carla Leite Guard Golden State Valkyries
Emily Engstler Forward Washington Mystics
Haley Jones Forward/Guard Atlanta Dream
Nika Mühl Guard Seattle Storm
Sarah Ashlee Barker Forward Los Angeles Sparks
Nyadiew Puoch Forward Connecticut Sun
Sug Sutton Guard Phoenix Mercury
Maya Caldwell Guard Atlanta Dream
Luisa Geiselsöder Center Dallas Wings
Chloe Bibby Forward Las Vegas Aces

Toronto Tempo Selections
The Tempo focused heavily on veteran leadership, shooting, and international experience for their inaugural roster.

Player Position Former Team
Julie Allemand Guard Los Angeles Sparks
Marina Mabrey Guard Connecticut Sun
Nyara Sabally Center New York Liberty
María Conde Forward Golden State Valkyries
Kristy Wallace Guard Indiana Fever
Nikolina Milić Forward Minnesota Lynx
Aaliyah Nye Guard/Forward Las Vegas Aces
Kitija Laksa Guard Dallas Wings
Maria Kliundikova Center Phoenix Mercury
Adja Kane Forward New York Liberty
Maria Vadeeva Center Los Angeles Sparks

After the expansion draft, both Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo will still get draft new player from the WNBA Draft which will be on the 13th of April. In the WNBA Draft, Toronto Tempo will be the No. 6, while the Portland Fire after choosing to pick first in the expansion draft will be No. 7.

Portland Fire are back!

July 15, 2025

Portland will bring back the Portland Fire as the team prepare to enter the league next season. Portland Fire first enter the league in 2000 and folded in 2002, then last Sept. 2024, WNAB announced that Portland will the 15th WNBA franchise set to begin play in the 2026 season, will be owned and operated by RAJ Sports, led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal.

RAJ Sports is also the principal co-owners of Sacramento Kings (NBA) and Stockton Kings (NBA G-League). RAJ Sports also purchased the Portland Thorns of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in January 2024.

NBA Free Agency: Deandre Ayton to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers

July 3, 2025

After being bought out by Portland Trailblazers, Center Deandre Ayton has agreed to sign the LA Lakers, this will give the Lakers the size that they need at the center position.

WNBA expanding to Three New Cities; Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia

July 1, 2025

The WNBA will soon be expanding to 3 new cities with 3 new teams. This was announced in a news conference “WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announces Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia to join the league in historic expansion.”

  • Cleveland – coming 2028
  • Detroit – coming 2029
  • Philadelphia – coming 2030

The three new teams will be in addition to the two other teams that was announced, Portland and the Toronto Tempo, both team will join the league in 2026 season of WNBA.

Portland, Oregon Awarded WNBA’s 15th Franchise  

September 19, 2024

WNBA;

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) announced today that it has awarded Portland, Oregon, the league’s 15th franchise. The Portland team, set to begin play in the 2026 season, will be owned and operated by RAJ Sports, led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal. Portland is the third expansion franchise awarded by the WNBA during this round of expansion, following the Golden State Valkyries and a Toronto franchise, bringing the league from 12 to 15 teams.

This is the best time to have your own WNBA team, since the value of your team will surely increase with the “Caitlin Clark effect” and the influx of new players from the college rank like Paige Bueckers and Juju Watkins.

I predict that before the next media deal, after 11 years, the league will add 5 more teams, making it to a total of 20 WNBA teams and the league will have at least 50 to 60 games per season.

Larry Bird, Jabbar and Magic Posts on Bill Walton

May 28, 2024

Here are some but not all of the tributes and posts on Bill Walton, who passed away at 71, after prolonged battle with cancer.

NBA Legend Bill Walton Passes Away at 71

May 28, 2024

NBA Hall of Famer and Basketball legend Bill Walton, has passed away at the age of 71 after a prolonged battle with cancer. Walton, a two-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer, died on Monday surrounded by family in a statement released by the NBA.

Bill Walton is a two-time NBA champion; 1976–77 season with the Portland Trail Blazers, also named Finals MVP, and 1984–85 season with Boston Celtics, earning the sixth man award. Walton is a member of both the NBA’s 50th anniversary and 75th anniversary teams. For his college career, he is a two-time champion at UCLA and a three-time national player of the year.

Tributes are pouring in from across the basketball community. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called Walton “truly one of a kind,” while former teammate Larry Bird described him as a “great friend” and “a thrill to play with.”

Klay Thompson scores 28 Points to help Warriors Edge Past Trail Blazers (118 – 114)

December 18, 2023

Klay Thompson was on fire for the Warriors, pouring in a game-high 28 points on 11-of-16 shooting, including 10-of-10 from three-point line. He kept the Warriors afloat in the first half then helped build a 22-point lead in early in the 3rd qtr.

This is the 3rd game where Thompson scored more than 20 points; 30 points against the Clippers, 24 pts on the Nets and then 28 points tonight. Klay’s scoring prowess came at a time where Stephen Curry’s 3-pointer streak ends. It was a bad shooting night for Curry, scoring omly for 7 points, 2 of 12 from the field and 0-8 from beyond the arc, he did managed to dish-out 8 assist to help setup his team-mate.

Warriors also got a much needed help from Andrew Wiggins, who scored 25 points and 7 rebounds. Podziemski, who started his 3rd game of the season, added 10 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

Not to be outdone by the Warriors, Portland made things interesting by erasing the 22 point lead (82-28), on a Matisse Thybulle three pointer with still 2:14 remaining in the qtr, then tied the game (91-91) again in the 4th qtr when Anfernee Simons made a 8-foot jumper.

Golden State was just hanging on a 5 point lead with still 2 mins remaining in the game but the Trail Blazer could not get over the hump to steal the win. Jeremy Grant lead Portland with 30 pts, 7 rebs and 6 assists, Anfernee Simons added another 24 pts and 7 assists, which Shaedon Sharpe chipping-in 12 pts.

Golden State Warriors improved to a 12-14 standing, while Portland are now 6-19, who are at the bottom of the Western Conference standings with the Spurs.

The Warriors will travel Boston while the Blazers will face the red-hot Suns at home both games will happen on the 20th, Wednesday night.

Steph Curry’s 31-points carries Golden State Warriors to a win over Trail Blazers in Tight Contest (110 – 106)

December 7, 2023

The Golden State Warriors emerged victorious in a thrilling matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers, securing a 110-106 win at Chase Center. Stephen Curry led the charge for the Warriors, dropping a game-high 31 points, including a clutch three-pointer in the final minute to seal the deal.

The game remained close throughout, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to gain a significant advantage. The Trail Blazers held a 55-48 lead at halftime, but the Warriors were able to responded with a run in the third quarter, Portland 34-31. However, the Blazers refused to back down, and fueled by Anfernee Simons’ 28 points, they were able to hold on to the lead until the 4:40 mark of fourth quarter.

The Warriors are just hold on to a 1-point lead, Curry stepped up and delivered a step-back triple to give Golden State a 4-point with 9.2 left in the game.

Draymond Green also played a crucial role in the Warriors’ victory. He was flirting with triple-double of 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists, anchoring the Warriors’ defense with 2 blocks.

For the Trail Blazers, aside from Anfernee Simons’s performance, Shaedon Sharpe had a big game with 26 points, 6 reds and 5 assists, followed by Jabari Walker’s 12 points and 5 rebs.

This victory was crucial for the Warriors, who improved their record to 10-11, which will put them 11th in the Western Conference standings. The Trail Blazers, on the other hand, fell to 6-14 and they share the bottom of the standings with the Spurs.

Portland Trail Blazers will host Dallas on Friday night, while the Warriors will visit Oklahoma City on Saturday night.

Kai Sotto finally played in the 2023 NBA Summer League

July 15, 2023

After receiving a DNP in the first 3 games, Kai Sotto finally played his first game in the NBA Summer League against the Portland Trail Blazers.

In his first game in the NBA Summer League, 7’3″ Kai Sotto made the most of his 13 mins play time by scoring 6 pts, 4 rebs, 1 assists and 3 blocks.

Sotto entered the game at the start of the 2nd qtr, replacing Robert Baker. Even though he did not score, Sotto was active on the defense blocking a Shaedon Sharpe layup and a couple of defensive rebounds. Kai Sotto made his first-ever basket on a putback with less than a minute to go in the 3rd.

In the 4th, he made a 14-foot jumper an assist from Quinndary Weatherspoon and a 2-foot dunk from a Tyger Campbell assists. An assists to Quinndary Weatherspoon then blocked a 6-foot hook shot by Rayan Rupert. Orlando Magic ended the Summer League with a 0 – 4 standing. Orlando still have a consolation game on Sunday against the Boston Celtics and hopefully Kai Sotto will have a much better outing than this one.

Golden State Warriors rally from 23-down to beat the Portland Trail Blazers

March 1, 2023

Golden State Warriors just won on what could be a start of a run by beating the Portland Trail Blazers, after being down by 23 points in the first half. Led by Jordan Poole’s 29 points, six assists and five rebounds, and Klay Thompson’s 23 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assist and a steal. The Warriors also survived a hot-start by Lillard, contributing 25 points and seven assists, after scoring a franchise record of 71 points in the previous game against the Rockets.

Warriors made their comeback in the 3rd quarter after holding the Blazers to just 17 points in the quarter and at the same time making 39-points. Their 3rd quarter run was energized by Jonathan Kuminga’s high-flying one-handed dunk from the middle lane.

Draymond Green returned from a two-game absence with a bruised right knee, Andrew Wiggins still out due to family issued, while Steph Curry is expected to return this Thursday, against the Clippers after working out with Santa Cruz Warriors in G League.

Six Warriors players scored in the double-digits and the team are 40% from the three-point line. Steve Keer said during the post game press conference “It just feels like we’re coming together. Like there’s some chemistry. Some energy that’s forming,” which is a good sign, since the team have bene struggling the whole season.

Warriors will host the Clippers on Thursday night, while the Blazers will face New Orleans this Wednesday evening to complete their road-home back-to-back.

Damian Lillard takes home the 2023 NBA 3-Point Contest

February 19, 2023

In a contest of accuracy and coordination, Portland Superstar Damian Lillard proves why he is considered as one of the dangerous sniper in the league by taking home the 2023 NBA 3-Point Contest. This was his 3rd appearance in the 3-Point Contest but his first time winning it.

Full highlights of the 2023 NBA 3-Point Contest;

It was a close contest in the final round but Lillard made two “Starry” shots, each is worth and each of those baskets gave him three points in the decisive round, which helped him defeat Hield 26-25. Lillard won the game with his final shot from the corner, a two-point money shot.

Lillard is currently 31% at the 3-pt line this season and will also play in the 2023 NBA All Star Game on Sunday.