Simons Lights Up Kings, Brings Another Win to Portland

The Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings faced different challenges when they matched up on Thursday evening at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. Portland had to keep a winning streak going with offense on a night when their defense wasn’t up to its recent standards. The Kings were trying to find their offense, or anything really, while adjusting to multiple new team members and odd rotations following the 2025 NBA Trade Deadline.

The game was spirited but fractured, with both teams going on mini-runs but neither able to establish dominance. In the end, the Blazers won their sixth straight, 10 of their last 11, 108-102.

Anfernee Simons led the Blazers with 30. Shaedon Sharpe added 24 with 9-18 shooting off the bench. DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine each provided 22 for the Kings.

Blazer of the Game

Simons shot 8-12 from the three-point arc. That could fill up all three sections of this recap all on its own. Sharpe was going to take this honor until the fourth quarter started, then…BOOM.

Stat of the Night

In the non-Simons categories, it’s a battle between 13 turnovers for the Blazers leading to 15 Sacramento points (double the number Portland scored after turnovers) and 20 fast break points scored by the Kings (again doubling the Blazers). Both indicate that it was a sloppy, fractured game for Portland, resembling their early-season efforts more than the wins in their recent streak.

Runner up: Domantas Sabonis collected fouls like candy, a couple on screens, before finally fouling out with 3:07 left in the game.

What We’ll Remember

Malik Monk and Zach LaVine had their moments, but DeMar DeRozan carved up the Blazers for 15 points in the fourth period. He had Toumani Camara on him for much of that streak too. There’s a reason this guy is considered one of the best clutch players in the NBA. He showed it tonight.

But you know what? Anfernee Simons added 16 of his own, overmatching DeRozan, hitting a quartet of threes in the process. That was the game-saver for Portland.