PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Trail Blazers showcased resilience on Saturday night, overcoming an 11-point deficit to secure a 122-115 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, thus splitting their two-game series in the city. The Blazers had previously topped the Grizzlies 135-115 the night before.
Donovan Clingan delivered an outstanding performance, contributing 20 points and 19 rebounds. Jerami Grant was also instrumental in the win, scoring 29 points. Off the bench, Jrue Holiday added 21 points, while Caleb Love chipped in with 17 points, including 10 crucial points during the second half.
Memphis saw strong performances from Olivier Maxence-Prosper, who scored a career-high 25 points, and Javon Small, who added 22 points in a losing effort. Despite the loss, their performance on the court showed promise.
The matchup was tightly contested, featuring eight ties and 18 lead changes. Jahmai Mayshack’s 3-pointer gave Memphis a brief advantage at 104-97 before Portland launched its comeback. Key plays from Vit Krejci, Toumani Camara, and Love propelled the Trail Blazers into the lead, with Love ultimately putting them ahead with a layup to make it 108-107 with just under six minutes remaining.
Despite missing All-Star forward Deni Avdija for the fourth consecutive game due to a lower back strain, and Scoot Henderson’s absence following his return from a torn hamstring, the Trail Blazers showed depth and determination in their performance.
Looking ahead, the Trail Blazers will host the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, while the Grizzlies will face off against the Golden State Warriors on the same day. The ability of Portland to rally in critical moments bodes well for their upcoming games as they continue to build momentum in the season.