Trail Blazers at Kings
The Portland Trail Blazers may have finally found their swagger Friday in a comeback win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Trail Blazers look to build on that performance and win a third straight game Sunday when they visit the Sacramento Kings. After starting the season 30-8, Portland had won just seven of 18 games before recovering from a 13-point, fourth-quarter deficit to stymie Oklahoma City behind All-Stars LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard.
Aldridge had 29 points and 16 rebounds and Lillard also tallied 29 points - his highest output since Jan. 11 - in the 115-112 triumph. "The way that we were there for each other - the high fives, the emotion from everybody - I think it's back to what we're accustomed to, Lillard told reporters. "That's what we do. We play exciting basketball games and get the crowd into it. And that's what we did." Sacramento, which has split its first four games under new coach George Karl, is completing a three-game homestand before hitting the road for eight straight - all but one against the Eastern Conference.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, CSN California (Sacramento), CSN Northwest (Portland)
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (38-19): Arron Afflalo stepped up against the Thunder in his third game with the team, scoring 11 of his 18 points - the most by a Blazers reserve this season - in the fourth quarter and shooting 5-of-6 from the field. "I'm trying to build individually, more and more trying to find my rhythm within the group, Afflalo told The Oregonian. "This was a big game for us." Portland, which is 13-13 on the road, plays 15 of its final 25 games away from the Moda Center as it jockeys for playoff seeding.
ABOUT THE KINGS (20-36): Ben McLemore scored 21 points and Ray McCallum added a season-high 20 in the 107-96 loss to San Antonio on Friday as All-Star DeMarcus Cousins (ankle, hip) joined point guard Darren Collison (core) on the sidelines. Cousins, walking in a boot, joked with his 63-year-old coach that “I walk around like you.” Karl is hopeful Cousins will be back for the Trail Blazers game. Sacramento made just 1-of-4 3-pointers and committed 17 turnovers while forcing just six against San Antonio.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Kings are 2-11 when Cousins has not played this season.
2. Since scoring 34 against the Clippers on Jan. 14, Lillard has averaged 19.9 points on 38.9 percent shooting, including 25 percent from the arc, in his last 19 games.
3. Kings PG Andre Miller is averaging 6.5 points, four rebounds and 4.3 assists in his first four games since coming over from the Wizards.