PORTLAND, Ore. — Shaedon Sharpe showcased his talents by scoring 32 points, including a crucial three-pointer in the closing minutes, leading the Portland Trail Blazers to a 114-110 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night. This victory marks the third consecutive win for Portland.
Dalano Banton made a significant contribution by adding 23 points to the team’s total. The Blazers entered the final quarter holding a 94-81 lead, but the Hawks responded with a quick 10-0 run, narrowing the gap to 99-96. Trae Young then hit a three-pointer that brought the score to 99-99, and shortly after, he delivered another three that put Atlanta ahead 102-101.
With just over a minute left in the game, Sharpe connected on a three-pointer, beating the shot clock to give Portland a 109-108 lead, which they maintained for the duration of the match. Remarkably, Sharpe scored Portland’s last 11 points. Despite falling behind by as much as 16 points in the first half, the Blazers rallied in the third quarter, with Banton’s three-pointer pushing them ahead at 77-76.
The Hawks initially jumped to a 25-9 lead, but Portland gradually chipped away, closing the first half at just a 56-54 deficit thanks to a jumper from Deni Avdija. At halftime, the Hawks led by eight points, with Young finishing the game with 29 points for Atlanta.
In player updates, Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter sat out due to managing a right knee injury but may take the court in the next match against Sacramento. He has participated in three games this season. For the Trail Blazers, DeAndre Ayton missed his third consecutive game because of a deep contusion on his right index finger, while Anfernee Simons was sidelined due to illness. Notably, Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel was spotted at the game.
A turning point in the match occurred when Sharpe completed three consecutive dunks midway through the third quarter, helping the Blazers to close the gap to 76-74 and reviving the team’s spirit.
An impressive stat from the game was that Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels has managed to record at least one steal in 12 straight games, which ranks as the second-longest active streak in the NBA.
Looking ahead, the Hawks will face the Sacramento Kings on Monday night, while the Trail Blazers are set to visit the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.