The Portland Trail Blazers just keep winning. They can’t stop winning. They might win forever.

The new-look Sacramento Kings were the latest victims to walk into Rip City, home of the hottest team in the NBA, and leave with an L on Thursday night. Blazers guard Anfernee Simons ripped off 30 points, including 16 in a pivotal fourth quarter, and Portland held on for a 108-102 win in crunch-time.

The win marked the Blazers’ sixth in a row and 10th in their last 11 games. It’s been a surprising stretch of excellence and variety. Across the six-game winning streak, point margins have ranged from as wide as 29 to as thin as two. They’ve flourished and won beautifully, and they’ve gritted their teeth to win ugly. The six wins have featured four different leading scorers, including Simons, guard Shaedon Sharpe, center Deandre Ayton and forward Deni Avdija. Those performances have been boosted by big scoring outputs from supporting cast members like Scoot Henderson, Jerami Grant and Toumani Camara, depending on the night.

While the scores and scorers have remained in flux during the Blazers’ hot stretch, one thing has remained constant: defense.

“The one thing that’s been consistent is just our defense, and we know that,” Portland head coach Chauncey Billups said after the Sacramento win. “That’s the way that we’re gonna be able to compete with all of these teams.”

“That’s why we went on this run,” Simons added. “We started to communicate a lot better on the defensive end, and we understand what we need to get done on that side of the ball.”

The numbers back up Billups and Simons’ assessments. Over the last 11 games, the Blazers have ranked No. 1 in defensive rating (104.7), No. 1 in fast-break points allowed (9.7 points per 100 possessions), and No. 1 in points in the paint allowed (42.4 points per 100 possessions). Portland has also ranked No. 1 in 3-point percentage allowed over that stretch, holding opponents to just 29.7% on 3s.

Players are flying around and making extra efforts to keep rotations intact. Ball-handlers are being hounded for 94 feet. The paint is protected by a caravan of size and verticality. Deflections and jumped passing lanes are leading to breakouts. The Moda Center crowd rises to its feet multiple times a game because of some emphatic block (usually supplied by Camara).

This surprise run has caught attention around the league, even with all the world-altering trades going on this past week. Simons and Ayton said teams are beginning to take the team more seriously, leading to more intense games. Billups said before games during this seven-game homestand, the Blazers’ stalwart defense has been a main topic of conversation with opposing teams.

“They’re just sitting there like, ‘Man, y’all have been playing great,’” Billups said about his interactions with other teams before recent games. “ … And what I love most is they talk most about how we’ve been guarding and our defense.”

As Henderson told reporters Tuesday after Portland held the Indiana Pacers to 89 points, “it all starts with Toumani Camara.” The 6-foot-7 second-year forward is the primary catalyst of Portland’s defensive turnaround, and he deserves All-Defense votes for his nightly work guarding positions one through five.

Against Sacramento, Camara had a rough offensive night, going 2-13 from the floor for just four points. But he still felt like one of the most important players on the floor for his defensive work and career-high 14 rebounds, including five on the offensive end. On defense, he drew two offensive foul calls fighting over Domantas Sabonis screens in the second half, which were pivotal in getting the three-time NBA All-Star to foul out early.

“Whether he makes a shot or not, he’s going to have an impact on the game,” Billups said about Camara.

Lately, the rest of the Blazers have been falling in around Camara and following his example of defensive activity to present a fortified unit. Grant blocked three shots against Sacramento — one at the rim, one in the midrange and one at the 3-point line. Henderson logged two steals. He’s registered nine over the past six games, as he continues to complement his improved offense with a jolt of speed and hustle on defense.

Working together again, the Blazers’ defense remained sturdy against Sacramento, holding the club to just 102 points on 42% shooting from the field and 33.3% from deep. With the defense laying the groundwork, Simons got to play hero on offense in the clutch. The two elements combined to provide a fitting ending for one of the most successful homestands in recent memory.

“It’s a collective effort,” Simons said. “ … Everybody’s been locked in on going out there and competing and trying to keep this streak alive.”