----- Anfernee Simons scored a team-high 36 points and Deandre Ayton finished with 33 points and 19 rebounds as the Portland Trail Blazers defeat the Atlanta Hawks 106-102 Wednesday night at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.
The Deandre Ayton Show!
Deandre Ayton finished with 33 points and 19 rebounds on 15-of-20 shooting and Anfernee Simons scored a team-high 36 points as the Portland Trail Blazers topped the Atlanta Hawks 106-102 on Wednesday night at Moda Center.
Dejounte Murray led Atlanta with a game-high 40 points.
Portland (19-46) trailed 33-16 early in the second quarter, but continued to battle and used a 13-7 run to trim the deficit to five at 52-47 heading into the locker room.
The Trail Blazers continued their push in the second half opening the third quarter on a 24-10 run to take a 71-62 lead.
The Hawks pulled within 95-91 on Murray's three-pointer. Simons' three gave Portland a 99-93 lead, but Clint Capela answered with a dunk and a layup to make it 101-97.
After Murray's layup for Atlanta with 1:22 left, Simons missed a floater. Matisse Thybulle blocked Bogdan Bogdanovic on the other end, and Simons made free throws with 22.2 seconds left to make it a four-point game.
Murray's 3-pointer got Atlanta within 103-102 with 17.1 seconds to go. Ayton made the first of two free throws but Toumani Camara grabbed the rebound and Portland hung on for the victory.
Up Next- The Trail Blazers play the second of a back-to-back tomorrow night against the New York Knicks at Moda Center. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7:00 PM.
Chad's Take- Deandre Ayton was awesome!