Deni Avdija recorded his second career triple-double and combined with Shaedon Sharpe to score 65 points as the visiting Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Atlanta Hawks 127-113 to end their four-game losing streak.
The win gave Portland a sweep of the two-game season series and ended the Blazers’ five-game losing streak in Atlanta, where they had not won since March 29, 2019.
Avdija had 32 points — his seventh time to reach 30 points this season – and added 15 rebounds and 10 assists. Sharpe finished with 33 points and 10 rebounds, his second double-double. Toumani Camara added 18 points for Portland (33-43).
Atlanta (36-39) was led by Trae Young with 29 points — on 7-for-20 shooting — and 15 assists for his 46th double-double of the season. Dyson Daniels added 22 points, 10 rebounds and two steals but also had six turnovers. The Hawks have lost three of their last four games.
The Blazers outrebounded the Hawks 64-54, scored 32 second-chance points, and took advantage of Atlanta’s poor shooting from the perimeter. Atlanta was only 7-for-32 (21.9 percent) on 3-point shots.
Atlanta led 27-26 after the first quarter, but Portland used a 10-0 run to erase a six-point deficit and then maintained the lead for the rest of the half. The Blazers, thanks to 16 points each from Avdija and Sharpe, led 57-54 at intermission.
Portland continued to build its lead, going up by 18 at with 5:39 left in the third, and it led 97-84 going into the fourth. Atlanta outscored Portland 10-2 to start the final period to trim its deficit to five points, but never got closer than four.
The Blazers were without Deandre Ayton (left calf strain), Jerami Grant (right knee inflammation), Scoot Henderson (concussion), Anfernee Simons (right forearm contusion) and Robert Williams III (left knee management).
The Hawks complete a back-to-back on Wednesday at Dallas. Portland continues its six-game road trip on Thursday at Toronto.
–Field Level Media
