Kings vs. Trail Blazers game highlights: Portland blows out Sacramento in NBA Cup contest
The Sacramento Kings lost another player and another game Friday night.
Deandre Ayton scored 26 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 115-106 victory in an NBA Cup in-season tournament game at Moda Center in Portland. Sacramento fell to 0-3 in West Group A while Portland improved to 2-1.
Malik Monk came off the bench to post 29 points and nine assists for the Kings (9-11). De’Aaron Fox had 22 points. Domantas Sabonis recorded a triple-double with 21 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists. Kevin Huerter left the game in the first half with an ankle injury.
Anfernee Simons had 21 points and nine assists for the Blazers (8-12). Deni Avdija added 20 points and nine rebounds.
The Kings will be back in action when they host the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
Injury updates
DeMar DeRozan and Trey Lyles were sidelined due to injuries again. DeRozan missed his second consecutive game with lower back muscle inflammation. Lyles is expected to miss three to four weeks with a right calf strain.
The Blazers were missing Donovan Clingan (left knee sprain), Jerami Grant (left knee sprain), Scoot Henderson (left quad contusion), Matisse Thybulle (right ankle sprain) and Robert Williams III (concussion protocol).
Hot start for Sabonis
Sabonis had a big first quarter to help the Kings take an early 30-25 lead. The All-NBA center scored 14 points in the opening period, going 6 of 7 from the field and 2 of 2 from 3-point range.
Sabonis continues to shoot the long ball efficiently while answering coach Mike Brown’s call to increase his volume. Going into Friday’s game, Sabonis was shooting 40.5% from 3-point range on 2.5 attempts per game, up from 37.9% on 1.1 attempts last season.
Huerter injured
Huerter left the game after rolling his right ankle early in the second quarter. A short time later, the team announced he would not return.
Huerter, who recently lost his spot in the starting lineup, has endured a rough start to the 2024-25 season after spending the summer recovering from shoulder surgery.
He is averaging a career-low 9.4 points per game while shooting career worsts of 41.1% from the field, 28% from 3-point range and 63.6% at the free-throw line.
Halftime report
Portland went up 38-35 after staging an 11-2 run early in the second quarter. The Kings briefly reclaimed the lead, but the Blazers answered with a 9-0 run to go ahead 49-41.
The Kings trailed 54-50 at the halftime break. They shot 43.6% from the field, 31.6% from 3-point range and 62.5% at the free-throw line in the first half.
Second-half surge
Portland went up 72-55 after outscoring Sacramento 18-5 to start the second half. The Kings were held to 22 points on 35.3% shooting in the third quarter.
The Blazers led 87-72 at the end of the third quarter and went up by as many as 19 in the fourth.
NBA Cup: West Group A standings
Rockets 3-0 (+49)
Trail Blazers 2-1 (-5)
Timberwolves 2-2 (-13)
Clippers 1-2 (-6)
Kings 0-3 (-25)
Up next
The Kings will return to Sacramento to face the Spurs on Sunday at Golden 1 Center.
Victor Wembanyama put up 34 points and 14 rebounds to help the Spurs beat the Kings 116-96 on Nov. 11 in San Antonio. The 7-foot-3 French phenom is averaging 23.4 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 3.6 blocks while shooting 47.4% from the field and 33.8% from 3-point range.
This story was originally published November 29, 2024 at 9:33 PM.
