Klingen Rested, Hansen Still Benched! Trail Blazers Hand Bulls 11th Straight Loss, Grant Scores 27, Williams Notches Double-Double

On February 27, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued, with the Trail Blazers defeating the Bulls 121-112, handing their opponents an 11-game losing streak. Klingen was out due to illness, but Yang Hansen did not enter the rotation as a result, remaining benched. The Trail Blazers led by as many as 15 points. The Bulls narrowed the gap in the final quarter, but the Trail Blazers withstood the pressure to secure an away victory. Grant led the Trail Blazers with 27 points, scoring 16 alone in the second quarter, while Williams added 14 points, 14 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks. The Bulls' loss means they failed to win a single game throughout the entire month of February in local time.

Statistics

Trail Blazers: Grant 27 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists; Williams 14 points, 14 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 blocks; Kamara 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals; Henderson 12 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists; Murray 10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists; Holiday 10 points, 7 assists; Krejčí 14 points, 3 rebounds; Wesley 10 points, 4 assists; Thybulle 5 points, 3 rebounds.

Bulls: Buzelis 20 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals; Jones 19 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists; Giddey 15 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists; Okoro 12 points, 5 rebounds; Richards 14 points, 10 rebounds; Sexton 10 points, 3 assists; Miller 11 points; Yabusele 6 points, 5 rebounds; Dillingham 5 points, 5 assists.

Player of the Game

Grant and Williams delivered outstanding performances to help the Trail Blazers defeat the Bulls.

Game Recap

In the first quarter, both teams started with small lineups. Buzelis and Murray scored on layups. Sexton drove for a basket, Kamara scored 4 consecutive points, and Holiday hit a mid-range jumper. Okoro scored with a hook shot, Thybulle and Okoro made three-pointers, Williams dunked, keeping the score close. Kamara hit a three, Jones and Dillingham responded. Buzelis dunked, Richards and Miller went to the free-throw line. Williams scored on an alley-oop dunk, Krejčí hit a three, Henderson made a mid-range shot, and Buzelis added a floater. The Bulls led the Trail Blazers 34-32 after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Henderson hit a mid-range shot, Giddey scored on a floater. Krejčí made a three-pointer, Henderson scored 4 straight points, Krejčí hit another three, putting the Trail Blazers up by 4. Sexton hit back-to-back threes, leading the Bulls on an 11-0 run to take the lead. Grant stepped up, scoring 4 consecutive points to steady his team. Murray dunked, Grant made three free throws and then scored on a fast-break dunk, as the Trail Blazers responded with an 11-0 run. Okoro scored on a layup, Williams put back a miss. Grant then scored 5 more points. Kamara hit a three, Jones made two baskets, and Grant scored on a floater. At halftime, the Trail Blazers led the Bulls 69-63. Grant scored 16 points in the quarter.

After halftime, the Bulls adjusted their starting lineup, with Jones and Richards replacing Sexton and Yabusele, while the Trail Blazers continued with a small lineup. Buzelis hit a three, Richards made two free throws, Okoro scored on a layup, giving the Bulls a 7-0 run to retake the lead. Henderson scored on a layup, Jones also made a layup. The Trail Blazers subbed in Williams, who missed three consecutive put-back attempts but drew fouls, making both free throws. Giddey hit a three, Williams dunked, Grant and Dillingham exchanged threes, Sissoko also hit a three, and Kamara finished with a dunk on the break, as the Trail Blazers went on a 9-0 run. Richards scored 4 straight points. After three quarters, the Trail Blazers led the Bulls 93-86.

In the final quarter, Williams hit a mid-range shot, Krejčí completed a three-point play, Richards scored 4 straight points, Williams dunked, Wesley scored on drives and free throws, giving the Trail Blazers a 15-point lead. Miller scored on an alley-oop, Yabusele made a floater, Miller and Giddey hit threes. Grant made one of two free throws, Yabusele and Buzelis scored from the line, Miller dunked, as the Bulls went on a 15-3 run to cut the deficit to 3 points. Grant hit a three-pointer, ending the Trail Blazers' field goal drought. Murray dunked, Jones scored on a layup. Holiday hit a mid-range shot, Richards dunked, Kamara made two free throws, Holiday made two more, Buzelis hit a three, but it was too late. Grant made two free throws, and ultimately, the Trail Blazers defeated the Bulls.

Starting Lineups

Trail Blazers: Henderson, Holiday, Grant, Kamara, Murray

Bulls: Sexton, Giddey, Okoro, Buzelis, Yabusele