November 13, 2026 | Golden 1 Center | Portland Trail Blazers 120, Sacramento Kings 107 | Emirates NBA Cup
A 9–3 record. Three consecutive victories. Another win away from Portland. And a 34-point performance from Deni Avdija that required just 13 shots. Maybe this whole winning-basketball thing is going to catch on.
Portland handled Sacramento 120–107 to open a six-game road trip. Damian Lillard supplied 29 points, including six three-pointers; Donovan Clingan added a double-double; and Micah Nori’s Blazers kept finding answers whenever the Kings threatened to make things interesting. The Kings fell to 1–11, so let’s not schedule the championship parade just yet. Still, a 13-point road win is a 13-point road win.
First Quarter: Portland Takes Control
Blazers 34, Kings 25
The opening quarter had some back-and-forth, including an 8–0 Sacramento run, but the Blazers got the last word. Portland found its shooting rhythm and took the lead for good late in the first. By the horn, the visitors had 34 points and a nine-point cushion. With the Kings coming in desperate for a victory, that was exactly the start Portland needed.
Second Quarter: Hold the Lead, Keep the Pressure On
Blazers 30, Kings 28 | Halftime: Portland 64, Sacramento 53
Sacramento didn’t disappear, but Portland didn’t let its first-quarter work go to waste either. The teams traded offense in the second, with the Blazers adding 30 more points and taking an 11-point advantage into the locker room. It was a good old-fashioned case of keeping the opponent at arm’s length, something the Blazers haven’t always managed in recent seasons.
Third Quarter: No Sacramento Comeback Today
Blazers 29, Kings 25 | Portland 93, Sacramento 78
The third was where Portland strengthened its grip. The lead grew to 15 by the end of the period, with Avdija’s efficient offense and Portland’s perimeter shooting helping prevent the Kings from building any meaningful momentum. Sacramento had plenty of scoring talent on paper, but paper was having a rough night at Golden 1 Center.
Fourth Quarter: Dame Slams the Door
Kings 29, Blazers 27 | Final: Portland 120, Sacramento 107
The Kings won the last quarter by two, but there was never a collapse. Portland had already built the cushion it needed. Damian Lillard buried a three-pointer with 5:34 left to push the margin to 113–98, an emphatic reminder that Dame can still turn a potentially nervous closing stretch into a much more comfortable one. The Blazers finished the job and headed out with their third straight victory.
Deni Avdija: What in the World Was That?
Thirty-four points. Eleven makes on thirteen shots. Three of five from beyond the arc. Nine of nine at the line. Six rebounds, four assists, and a block. That’s 84.6% field-goal shooting while carrying the scoring load. Deni wasn’t merely good. He was almost absurdly efficient. With Dame back alongside him, opponents have to worry about both the veteran three-point bombardment and Avdija’s relentless attacks.
Dame Time and the Supporting Cast
Lillard finished with 29 points and six assists. His overall 6-for-18 shooting wasn’t exactly a masterpiece from the field, but all six makes came from three-point range, and he sank all 11 free throws. Toumani Camara contributed 14 points on 5-for-7 shooting with two steals and a block. Donovan Clingan added 13 points, 11 rebounds, two steals, two blocks, and another made three. Nobody needs to act shocked when Clingan launches one anymore.
Robert Williams III scored only two points, but his seven rebounds and game-best plus-26 in fewer than 17 minutes deserve attention. Branden Carlson scored five in brief action. The offense also benefited from 17 made threes and a tremendous 29-for-31 night at the foul line. Remember when watching Portland shoot free throws was a form of self-inflicted torture? This was considerably more enjoyable.
Who Needs to Get Going?
Scoot Henderson had 11 points in 23 minutes but shot 3-for-10, grabbed no rebounds, and recorded just one assist. The zero turnovers are encouraging; the overall impact needs to grow. Jrue Holiday supplied five rebounds and five assists, but scored six points on 2-for-7 shooting with six turnovers. Sidy Cissoko scored three points on 1-for-5 shooting. One uneven night doesn’t erase anyone’s progress, but there is plenty to clean up.
Yang Hansen: Three Straight DNPs, and a Fanbase Running Out of Patience
Hansen Yang was officially listed DNP — Coach’s Decision against Sacramento. It marks a third consecutive game without action. Given the attention his development gets from fans in China, it’s understandable that the absence of minutes has become a flashpoint in online discussions, including on X. But the official box score confirms only the DNP; it doesn’t establish how many fans are angry or why Nori chose his rotation.
It’s a tricky situation. Portland is 9–3 and trying to win games, and coaches generally shorten rotations when things are working. Fans want to see the young center develop through actual NBA minutes. Both points can be true. If the organization considers Yang a long-term investment, it’ll eventually need a coherent plan for meaningful playing time.
Micah Nori’s Start: Is This Really Happening?
Nori has Portland off to a 9–3 start, including a remarkable 6–1 record on the road. He deserves credit for keeping the group focused, getting contributions beyond its stars, and navigating a schedule that has already produced some significant wins. It’s early, and one dozen games don’t make a coaching legend. But if we’re measuring results rather than preseason expectations, it’s a tremendous opening stretch.
Thom Dundon: Does Winning Make Everybody Less Angry?
New owner Thom Dundon has faced understandable scrutiny from Blazers fans over what his ownership will mean for Portland’s future. Is a 9–3 start helping soften some of that skepticism? Maybe. Winning has a funny way of making everyone feel better about almost everything. But we shouldn’t pretend the record proves a measurable change in public sentiment. Real trust will depend on what ownership does over time, not simply on the next hot shooting night.
The NBA Cup Connection — and What’s Next
Friday’s victory mattered for more than the standings. Both Portland and Sacramento entered the Emirates NBA Cup matchup 0–1 in West Group C, making this a crucial game for staying alive in group play. Portland improved to 1–1 and moved its group-stage point differential from minus-six to plus-seven. The team now travels to Minnesota for games on Monday and Tuesday, November 16 and 17.
And one more bit of perspective: Sacramento, despite Domantas Sabonis putting up 21 points and 12 rebounds and De’Andre Hunter scoring 24, has started the season 1–11. Portland should beat teams playing this poorly. The encouraging part is that the Blazers are doing exactly that instead of finding creative new ways to lose.
Portland Trail Blazers Box Score
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deni Avdija | 35 | 34 | 6 | 4 | 11–13 | 3–5 | 9–9 |
| Damian Lillard | 33 | 29 | 2 | 6 | 6–18 | 6–13 | 11–11 |
| Toumani Camara | 36 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 5–7 | 2–4 | 2–2 |
| Donovan Clingan | 27 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 6–13 | 1–4 | 0–0 |
| Scoot Henderson | 23 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 3–10 | 2–7 | 3–5 |
| Jrue Holiday | 27 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2–7 | 0–3 | 2–2 |
| Branden Carlson | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Sidy Cissoko | 26 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–0 |
| Jayson Kent | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 |
| Robert Williams III | 17 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Team total | 240 | 120 | 41 | 21 | 37–77 | 17–42 | 29–31 |
Yang Hansen, Micah Potter and John Tonje: DNP — Coach’s Decision.
Sacramento Kings Box Score
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| De’Andre Hunter | 42 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 7–13 | 2–5 | 8–9 |
| Domantas Sabonis | 35 | 21 | 12 | 5 | 9–16 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| Darius Acuff Jr. | 35 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 6–19 | 3–10 | 2–2 |
| Keegan Murray | 40 | 16 | 7 | 4 | 7–14 | 2–6 | 0–0 |
| Zach LaVine | 36 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 4–9 | 3–6 | 1–2 |
| Malik Monk | 18 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2–5 | 0–2 | 3–4 |
| Dylan Cardwell | 13 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2–4 | 0–0 | 2–4 |
| Emanuel Sharp | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 0–0 |
| Lamar Black | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Daeqwon Plowden | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 |
| Team total | 240 | 107 | 38 | 29 | 39–86 | 11–34 | 18–23 |
Mason Plumlee: DNP — Coach’s Decision. Sacramento scored 46 points in the paint, but Portland’s shooting from three was too much.
Final Thoughts: A Good Team or Just a Good Start?
We’re twelve games into the season, and the Blazers are 9–3. They’ve just completed a pair of wins over Oklahoma City and followed them with an emphatic road victory over Sacramento. Deni looks like a star, Dame remains dangerous, Nori is getting results, and the supporting cast has provided genuine reasons for optimism.
Are there problems? Of course. Scoot’s development is uneven, Yang isn’t getting on the floor, and nobody knows where this ownership story ultimately leads. But winning is a whole lot more pleasant than the alternative. Portland 120, Sacramento 107. I still believe. Who knows why?
Official NBA Game Highlights
Watch the official NBA Blazers–Kings video recap, or visit the NBA game page for individual Deni and Lillard highlights and the full game highlights feed.
See also our November 11 win over Oklahoma City and Blazers TV and streaming guide. Sources: NBA official box score, NBA takeaways.