Blazers Secure 8th Seed in NBA Play-in Tournament with Victory Over Kings
The Portland Trail Blazers secured a 122-110 victory over the Sacramento Kings, clinching the 8th seed in the 2026 NBA Play-in Tournament with a 42-40 season record. Deni Avdija led the Blazers with 25 points, while Precious Achiuwa led the Kings with 27 points.
In a well-rounded performance, all of the Blazers' starters scored in double figures. Kris Murray stood out as the player of the game, contributing 9 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in 30 efficient minutes on the court, finishing with a plus 27 in the plus-minus stat.
The Blazers showed improvement in turnovers, outperforming the Kings with a 12-16 turnover count and recording 9 steals. The first half saw the Blazers dominate with a 77-57 lead, fueled by strong defense and efficient offense.
Although the Kings made a comeback in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 7 points, the Blazers managed to maintain their lead and secure the win. The team now looks ahead to facing the Phoenix Suns for the 7th seed in the NBA Playoffs on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Pacific time.