PORTLAND, Ore. -- Anfernee Simons hit five 3-pointers and scored 25 points, leading the Portland Trail Blazers to the largest blowout victory in franchise history, defeating the Charlotte Hornets 141-88 on Saturday night. This staggering 53-point margin surpassed the previous record of 50 set on November 21, 1982, against Cleveland, when they triumphed with a score of 129-79.
Toumani Camara contributed significantly with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, showcasing his versatility on the court. Shaedon Sharpe and Jabari Walker also added to the scoring chart with 20 points each, with Walker pulling down 14 rebounds. The Trail Blazers displayed their offensive strength, scoring 27 fast-break points just within the first half, which is the most for any NBA team this season.
Despite the setbacks, Miles Bridges led the Hornets with 17 points, with Nick Smith Jr. trailing behind with 14. LaMelo Ball faced significant struggles, scoring only five points on 1-of-10 shooting from the field. The Hornets’ offensive woes were exacerbated by their inability to find the basket consistently, shooting just 32% overall and hitting only four of their 22 three-point attempts—an abysmal 18.2%.
The game began with Charlotte holding the lead at 4-3 before Portland launched on a 13-0 scoring streak, taking control early on. By the end of the first quarter, the Trail Blazers were already up by 17 points, demonstrating their confidence and prowess. They maintained their dominance throughout, closing the third quarter at 109-66.
Notably, the Blazers played without Robert Williams III, who was ruled out due to swelling in his left knee, casting uncertainty on his potential recovery time. The absence of Deandre Ayton, who has been sidelined with a left calf strain since February 10, contributed to the Trail Blazers needing to rely on new players stepping up. His potential return will be pivotal as they look to rebuild momentum after recent struggles.
Meanwhile, the Hornets continued to navigate through their own injury woes. Key players, including Grant Williams, Brandon Miller, and DaQuan Jeffries, missed the game due to various injuries. Williams is out for the year with ACL surgery, and Miller has been struggling with a wrist ligament tear, highlighting the shortage of depth on their roster.
Both teams are set to play again shortly, with the Hornets traveling to Sacramento and the Trail Blazers embarking on a challenging seven-game road trip, starting with Utah. Each game will carry significant weight as they strive for improvement and aim for higher standings—even as some question the wisdom of prioritizing wins versus draft lottery aspirations during this competitive season.
This matchup served as more than just another regular-season game—it showcased the Trail Blazers' potential to dominate when firing on all cylinders, raising questions on how they will perform with more key players returning from injury. Their current winning margins are encouraging as they gear up for the next phase of the season, which will be testy as they face stronger opponents.