The Portland Trail Blazers took one of the NBA’s best teams to overtime Sunday afternoon but ultimately fell short, losing 133-129 at the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I’m obviously super proud of the way we fought, the way we handled the game,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups told reporters at Rocket Arena. “I mean, shoot, we was up most of the game, knowing that obviously this team was gonna fight. But we were fighting as well.”
The Blazers led by as much as 18 points in the third quarter before finding themselves down five in overtime.
The final minute produced a wild finish. Blazers guard Anfernee Simons hit three to give the Blazers a 129-128 lead with 44 seconds on the clock. But Deandre Hunter answered with a three to put the Cavaliers back up 131-129 with 30 seconds to go.
Following a Blazers’ timeout, Toumani Camara made an errant in-bounds pass intended for Shaedon Sharpe in the lane. The pass was stolen by Hunter.
But Sharpe came right back with a steal of a Max Strus pass in Cleveland’s backcourt and went straight to the basket. His driving layup attempt came up short, but Duop Reath grabbed the rebound and passed out to Deni Avdija. He took a step-back three that hit the back of the rim.
Portland Trail Blazers’ Deni Avdija (8) blocks Cleveland Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long) APAP
“I really thought that lost shot he shot was good,” Billups said.
Hunter got the rebound and was fouled by Simons.
Hunter made both free throws to put Cleveland up 133-129 with 4.0 seconds remaining. A Simons three missed to end the game.
Avdija led the Blazers with 30 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in his return after missing Friday night’s win at Brooklyn with a quad injury. Avdija went 13 of 13 from the free-throw line, setting a career-high for free throws made.
“Deni was great the whole time,” Billups said. “We needed every single one of them.”
Simons scored 27 points, with 13 coming in the fourth quarter and overtime. Camara had 19 points with five rebounds and four steals. Sharpe added 18 points with six rebounds.
The Blazers started the game well and closed the first half with 15-0 to take a 54-42 lead into halftime. Henderson, Reath and Camara hit threes during the run.
The Blazers built an 18-point lead in the third quarter, but the Cavaliers took the lead at 110-109 when Evan Mobley scored inside with 3:21 remaining.
The Blazers trailed 119-117 when Simons again drove to the basket and was fouled. His two free throws tied the game at 119-119, to force overtime.
Portland Trail Blazers’ Toumani Camara (33) dunks as Cleveland Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley (4) and Jarrett Allen defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland, Sunday, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long) APAP
“Some critical mental errors at the end of regulation, just defensively, that really kind of cost us,” Billups said. “But, man, our guys played amazing. We really did? Clutch baskets, clutch stops when we needed them sometimes.”
Hunter led the Cavaliers with 32 points and seven rebounds. Mobley scored 20 points with eight rebounds.
WHAT IT MEANS
The Blazers (26-34) saw their four-game winning streak end and fell to five games behind Sacramento (31-28), Dallas (32-29) and Minnesota (32-29), all tied for eighth in the Western Conference standings.
The Cavaliers (50-10) went to 4-0 this season without their best player, All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, who took the day off to rest.
LINEUP
With Jerami Grant (knee) out, Billups started Simons, Sharpe, Avdija, Camara and Donovan Clingan.
Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan puts up a shot attempt between the defense of Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (L) and Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley in the first half at Rocket Arena. John Kuntz, cleveland.comJohn Kuntz, cleveland.com
Clingan struggled against Cleveland’s mobile big men, fouling out just 11 minutes of action while scoring four points. Not having him late hurt the team’s defense.
“That was a tough loss for us,” Billups said. “But the whole time, he just could never really get any rhythm. We needed his rim protection in a major way.”
NEXT UP
The Blazers play a 4 p.m. game Monday at the Philadelphia 76ers.
— Aaron Fentress | [email protected] | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)
