Deni Avdija kept his cool when the game was at its hottest. With 1.5 seconds left in overtime, the Portland forward stepped to the line and sank two free throws to seal a 134-133 win over the Sacramento Kings in a wild finish in Portland. It capped a 35-point night for Avdija, the kind of breakout performance that sticks to a player’s name for a long time.

This was the first leg of a back-to-back, home-and-home set, and it had everything: a late rally, a clutch three to force overtime, and a final sequence that flipped the lead twice in seconds. The two sides will run it back Saturday night in Sacramento, and after this, the encore can’t come fast enough.

Clutch free throws crown Avdija’s 35-point night

Avdija was the star from start to finish. He scored 35 on 12-of-19 shooting, attacking the paint, picking his spots, and punishing the Kings at the stripe with a 10-of-12 night. His last two were the biggest, and they were the product of smart, strong play under pressure.

On Portland’s final possession in overtime, Avdija went straight at the rim and drew contact. He was fouled by Russell Westbrook, and everything paused. In that silence, Avdija showed poise that belied the chaos of the moment. Two dribbles, two makes, and the Blazers were back in front for good.

“That’s a statement night for Avdija — calm in chaos.”

DeMar DeRozan fuels a furious Kings comeback

Credit Sacramento for even getting to extra time. The Kings ripped off a 17-2 run in the final 2:28 of regulation, with DeMar DeRozan leading the surge. DeRozan hit a massive 3-pointer with eight seconds left to tie it, part of a 33-point line that showcased his full bag.

DeRozan was ruthlessly efficient: 10-of-16 from the field, 3-of-4 from deep, and a perfect 10-of-10 at the line. He also saved his biggest moments for the end, scoring 22 of his points in the fourth quarter and overtime. In OT, his jumper with four seconds left pushed the Kings ahead 133-132 — the go-ahead dagger that briefly looked like the winner.

Blazers’ depth answers the bell

Avdija had help. Shaedon Sharpe poured in 26 points and hit 4-of-6 from three, giving Portland needed spacing and downhill punch. Jerami Grant added 20 steady points, the kind of veteran scoring that keeps runs alive and stops droughts.

Rookie big Donovan Clingan chipped in 19, finishing plays with touch and timing. Toumani Camara added 17, another steady hand in a game where the Blazers needed every bucket. Portland didn’t win this with one hero shot; they won it with layers of scoring that held up through the chaos.

• Shaedon Sharpe: 26 points, 4-of-6 from three
• Jerami Grant: 20 points
• Donovan Clingan: 19 points
• Toumani Camara: 17 points

“Blazers won the margins — free throws, spacing, and nerve.”

Kings’ supporting cast keeps it close

For Sacramento, Maxime Raynaud delivered a career-high 29 points, a major spark that kept the Kings in the fight all night. Russell Westbrook added 20 points and 10 assists on 8-of-11 shooting, toggling between set-up work and timely scoring.

Those contributions were vital alongside DeRozan’s late-game takeover. Westbrook was also the defender whistled on Avdija’s final drive — a tough whistle in a tough spot — underscoring how thin the line is between hero and heartbreaker in crunch time.

“Sacramento showed heart — now they need the last stop.”

The final minute: swings, whistles, and nerve

The endgame had two clear beats. First, DeRozan rose up and drilled a jumper with four seconds remaining in overtime to put Sacramento ahead 133-132. The Kings had wrestled control, and it felt like the closing note to a comeback script they had been writing since the final minutes of regulation.

But Portland had one more answer. Avdija attacked, drew the foul from Westbrook, and went to the line with 1.5 seconds left. He made both. It wasn’t flashy. It was just winning basketball: strong decision, clean execution, and ice in the veins.

Why this matters heading into Saturday in Sacramento

Beyond the box score, this felt like a confidence win for Portland. Holding off a 17-2 punch, then closing it at the stripe, shows a team that can bend without breaking. The Blazers showed balance, with five players scoring 17 or more, and they trusted the hot hand when it mattered most.

For the Kings, there’s as much to like as there is to fix. The late-game push was elite — shot-making, control, and belief. But the final defensive possession and the foul trouble at the line will linger. In back-to-backs like this, those small plays often swing the rematch.

Saturday night in Sacramento will come down to simple things: keeping Avdija off his spots, running shooters off the line, and forcing tougher catches for Portland’s wings. On the other end, DeRozan’s rhythm and Raynaud’s activity around the rim are clear positives to build on, and Westbrook’s paint pressure remains a key lever.

“If Game 1 was about nerves, Game 2 will be about adjustments.”

In the end, this was a reminder of how thin the margins are in the NBA. One 17-2 run can flip a game. One foul can flip it back. And one player with the ball, alone at the line, can decide it. On this night, that player was Deni Avdija, and the Blazers walked out with the win. See you in Sacramento.