On Tuesday, April 1, 2025, the Portland Trail Blazers broke a four-game losing streak by defeating the Atlanta Hawks 127-113 at State Farm Arena, a venue where they hadn’t won since 2019. The game showcased a remarkable performance from Deni Avdija, who not only scored 32 points but also recorded 15 rebounds and 10 assists, marking his second career triple-double. Shaedon Sharpe also made significant contributions, adding 33 points and 10 rebounds to the Blazers’ effort.
The Hawks, who came into the game with high expectations, ranked second in the NBA for points per game at 117.9, struggled against Portland's defense. Despite a strong start, Atlanta committed a staggering 20 turnovers during the game, which proved costly. Trae Young led the Hawks with 29 points and 15 assists, but he acknowledged the need to stay level-headed after the loss, stating, "You can never get too high or too low after a game and I won’t get too low after this loss."
The Blazers entered the matchup without key players, including point guard Anfernee Simons and backup Scoot Henderson. Coach Chauncey Billups started Dalano Banton in place of Simons. Although Banton had a rough shooting night, going 4 for 15 from the field for 11 points, he contributed five assists, seven rebounds, and four blocked shots, helping to facilitate the offense.
Portland’s defense was a highlight of the game, especially considering the Hawks’ offensive prowess. Atlanta shot 44.6% from the field but struggled from beyond the arc, hitting only 7 of 32 three-point attempts (21.9%). The Blazers, while also not shooting well from three-point range (31.7% on 13 of 41), made up for it with a dominant rebounding performance, out-rebounding the Hawks 54-45 and scoring 32 second-chance points compared to Atlanta's 15.
In the first half, both teams exchanged leads, with the Hawks narrowly leading 27-26 at the end of the first quarter. However, the Blazers outscored Atlanta 31-27 in the second quarter, taking a 57-54 lead into halftime. The Blazers' strong rebounding and ability to capitalize on Atlanta's turnovers were key factors in their first-half success.
As the second half unfolded, Portland surged ahead, leading by as much as 18 points in the third quarter. The Blazers shot an impressive 53.6% from the field during that period and connected on 5 of 11 three-point attempts, entering the fourth quarter with a 97-84 advantage. Billups emphasized the importance of starting strong and maintaining focus, saying, "I love how we played the entire night. We talked about how important it was to get off to a good start."
Despite the Hawks’ attempts to mount a comeback, closing the gap to 104-100 with just over eight minutes remaining, Portland responded decisively. A critical play occurred when center Donovan Clingan converted a three-point play, pushing the Blazers’ lead to 120-105 with 4:14 left in the game.
Dyson Daniels was another standout for Atlanta, finishing with 22 points and 10 rebounds. His performance, however, was overshadowed by the team’s overall lack of execution, particularly in terms of ball control. "It was a game of runs and they went on big runs," Daniels noted post-game. "We had too many turnovers and it led to easy baskets for them."
As the regular season winds down, the Blazers (33-43) now find themselves 3.5 games behind the 10th-place Sacramento Kings (36-39) in the Western Conference playoff chase. Meanwhile, the Hawks (36-39) fell into a tie with the Orlando Magic (37-40) for seventh in the Eastern Conference after Orlando's win over the San Antonio Spurs.
The Blazers will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for their next game against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. Conversely, the Hawks will face the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, April 2, 2025, in a crucial matchup as they aim to regain their footing in the playoff race.
In summary, the Trail Blazers’ victory over the Hawks not only ended their losing streak but also highlighted the importance of defensive resilience and rebounding in basketball. With both teams facing critical games ahead, the stakes are higher than ever as the regular season approaches its conclusion.
