The Portland Trail Blazers kept their flickering play-in hopes alive with a 112-103 win Thursday at the Toronto Raptors, powered by a phenomenal performance from Shaedon Sharpe. The third-year guard from Ontario, Canada, returned across the northern border to dominate the Raptors, matching his career high with 36 points on 14-of-23 shooting. In addition to his scoring, Sharpe contributed six rebounds and five assists, showcasing his all-around game.
Despite missing Anfernee Simons due to right forearm soreness, the Blazers managed to rally behind Sharpe and Deni Avdija, who also had a standout game. Avdija scored 26 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and dished out six assists, helping to secure the critical victory for Portland.
Blazers coach Chauncey Billups made the decision to start Dalano Banton, who was born in Toronto, in place of Simons for the second consecutive game. Banton struggled early, but found his rhythm later, finishing the night with 23 points and two assists. The team, however, had a rocky start, shooting only 39.6% from the field in the first half and committing a staggering 15 turnovers. They also struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 4 of 20 three-point attempts, with Banton going 0 of 6.
“We really struggled with their pressure, but we ended up kind of getting calmed down in the game in certain spots,” Billups told reporters after the game. Despite the Blazers’ offensive woes, they managed to stay close, trailing by only three points at halftime with the Raptors leading 50-47.
The second half told a different story as the Blazers flipped the script. They shot a blistering 62.5% in the third quarter, scoring 22 points in the paint and outscoring the Raptors significantly. Banton scored 11 points and Sharpe added nine during this pivotal stretch, allowing Portland to take an 83-76 lead into the fourth quarter.
In the final quarter, the Blazers maintained their momentum, shooting 57.1% and extending their lead to as much as 15 points before closing out the game. The victory was particularly sweet for Sharpe, who set a record for the most points scored at Toronto by a visiting Canadian player, with family in attendance to witness the milestone.
With this win, the Blazers improved their record to 34-43 and moved to 2.5 games behind the 10th-place Sacramento Kings (36-40) in the Western Conference standings. The Kings and the 11th-place Phoenix Suns (35-41) were off Thursday, leaving the Blazers with a glimmer of hope as they look to fight for a play-in spot.
As for the Raptors, their struggles continued. Toronto fell to 28-49 on the season and was officially eliminated from playoff contention after a 137-118 loss to the Chicago Bulls just days earlier. RJ Barrett led the Raptors with 18 points, while Orlando Robinson added 14 points. The Raptors' bench made a significant impact, outscoring Portland's reserves 47-14, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Blazers’ strong performance.
Toronto’s head coach Darko Rajakovic leaned on his younger players for this matchup, especially with key players like Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and Jakob Poeltl sidelined. Barnes was ruled questionable for Thursday’s game due to a finger joint contusion, and his absence was felt on both ends of the court. Barrett, the only starter expected to play, had a heavy burden to carry against a Trail Blazers team that was eager to secure a win.
Injuries also plagued the Blazers as forward Toumani Camara left the game in the third quarter with a left ankle injury and did not return. Camara had contributed five points, three rebounds, and two assists in over 24 minutes before his exit. His status will be monitored as the team prepares for their next game.
Looking ahead, the Blazers will face the Chicago Bulls at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 4, 2025. Meanwhile, the Raptors will host the Detroit Pistons on the same day as they look to finish the season strong despite their playoff elimination.
This victory marks a crucial step for the Trail Blazers as they continue their pursuit of a play-in position in the Western Conference. With their next game looming, the Blazers will need to build on this momentum and capitalize on their opportunities on the road.
