Trail Blazers’ Late Misses Contribute to Third Straight Loss

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Trail Blazers fell short in a critical game against the Detroit Pistons, losing 119-112 at the Moda Center Sunday night. Despite mounting a late rally and reducing an 18-point deficit to just three, the Blazers failed to capitalize on key opportunities in the closing moments.

Trailing by three with under 90 seconds left, the Blazers missed three consecutive 3-point attempts that could have tied the game. The home crowd, which rallied behind the team as they fought back in the second half, was left disappointed after each miss. “Man, we had some great opportunities in that fourth quarter,” said Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups. “We really did.”

After a dramatic third-quarter performance by Anfernee Simons, who scored 34 points, the Blazers seemed poised for a comeback. Simons ignited the crowd with a three-pointer that sparked a surge of momentum, prompting the team to string together defensive stops. However, once they got within striking distance, the pressure mounted, and their shooting faltered.

Backup center Duop Reath, who had recently snapped a shooting slump, missed his first critical attempt at the top of the key. Moments later, forward Toumani Camara, who impressed through the game with strong defensive plays and a highlight dunk, also missed a crucial three in the corner. Finally, guard Shaedon Sharpe‘s wide-open shot also hit the mark but didn’t fall. The Moda Center crowd, some dressed in tie-dye for Bill Walton Tribute Night, responded with gasps and sighs as each shot missed its target.

The Blazers’ shooting struggles extended beyond those three attempts, as they finished the night shooting 30% from beyond the arc, making just 15 of their 50 three-point attempts. In contrast, Detroit managed to score 50 points in the paint compared to Portland’s 30, revealing significant gaps in defensive strategy for the Blazers.

With just 17 games remaining in the regular season, the Blazers find themselves four games back of the 10th seed in the Western Conference and also behind the No. 11 seed by 2.5 games. The pressure is mounting as they struggle to secure a spot in the Play-In Tournament. Simons acknowledged the importance of maintaining focus, saying, “We gotta really string some wins together just to give ourselves a chance. Like I said, we’re gonna fight.”

Coach Billups emphasized the need for a consistent approach moving forward rather than focusing on the standings. “We keep playing as hard as we did tonight,” he said. “Get some of those threes to go in, get some of those finishes to go in, and we look up in two or three weeks and see where we’re at.”

The Blazers are set to face the Golden State Warriors on Monday as they continue their pursuit of a Play-In spot, a critical game that could shift the momentum for the struggling team.