Portland Trail Blazers Defeat Atlanta Hawks 117-101: Sharpe Shines, Avdija Absent
The Portland Trail Blazers secured a 117-101 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, with Shaedon Sharpe leading the way with 24 points. Deni Avdija was absent from the game due to lower-back soreness, missing his second consecutive game. Portland held a narrow 88-87 lead going into the fourth quarter and managed to extend their advantage. Jerami Grant contributed 16 points, while Rayan Rupert and Jrue Holiday added 13 and 12 points, respectively. Onyeka Okongwu led the Hawks with 26 points, but it wasn't enough to secure a win. CJ McCollum, playing his third game with the Hawks, scored 20 points. Kristaps Porzingis missed his fourth consecutive game for Atlanta due to an Achilles issue.
The Hawks will face the Boston Celtics next on Saturday night, while the Trail Blazers will host the Los Angeles Lakers on the same night.