Anfernee Simons recorded 36 points, eight assists and seven rebounds to help the Portland Trail Blazers notch a 106-102 victory over the visiting Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.
Deandre Ayton scored a season-high 33 points on 15-of-20 shooting and collected 19 rebounds for his sixth straight double-double for Portland. The Trail Blazers won for just the second time in their past 12 home games.
Atlanta’s Dejounte Murray scored 40 points for his second 40-point effort in three games. He matched his career high of 41 points in Friday’s win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Clint Capela had 13 points and 14 rebounds, and De’Andre Hunter added 11 points for the Hawks.
Jalen Johnson (ankle) missed his third straight for the injury-riddled Hawks. The biggest loss has been Trae Young (hand surgery), who last played on Feb. 23.
Dalano Banton added 12 points for the Trail Blazers, who shot 46.3 percent from the field and were 10 of 30 from 3-point range. Jerami Grant (hamstring) sat out for the third time in four games.
The Hawks made 43.2 percent of their attempts, including 14 of 39 from behind the arc.
Murray drained a 3-pointer with 17.6 seconds left as the Hawks pulled within 103-102. Ayton split two free throws with 15.6 seconds left, with Portland’s Toumani Camara scrambling for the rebound.
Once Simons got the ball, he killed time until he was fouled with 3.8 seconds left. He hit both free throws to make it a four-point margin.
Earlier, the margin was six after two free throws by Ayton with 1:48 left. Capela and Murray each made baskets as the Hawks moved within 101-99 with 1:22 left.
Simons hit two throws with 22.9 seconds left to put the Trail Blazers ahead by four.
Portland trailed by five at halftime before outscoring the Hawks 35-23 in the third quarter.
The Trail Blazers asserted control by rattling off 11 consecutive points for a 71-62 advantage. Matisse Thybulle’s layup capped the burst with 4:14 to play.
The Hawks moved within three late in the quarter before Ayton and Simons made baskets to give Portland an 82-75 lead entering the final period.
Atlanta led by as many as 16 points in the first half before settling for a 52-47 lead at the break.
Murray scored 24 points in the half. Ayton had 18 and Simons 16 for Portland.
–Field Level Media