Trail Blazers Vs Bulls — Grant, Williams and Krejci Push Portland to 121-112 Win in Chicago
In a back-and-forth night at the United Center, the trail blazers vs bulls matchup ended 121-112, sending Chicago to its 12th consecutive loss and giving Portland a road win to start the trip.
Trail Blazers Vs Bulls: Portland grinds out a Windy City victory
The game played out like a track meet early, with both teams sprinting up and down the court and trading bursts. Jerami Grant shook off early foul trouble and finished with 27 points, leading Portland in a contest that closed 121-112 in favor of the Trail Blazers. The win opened the Blazers’ road trip with a victory in the Windy City.
Robert Williams III anchors the interior in limited minutes
Robert Williams III made his presence felt in 23 minutes, producing 14 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks. When Williams sat, Portland leaned on various small-ball lineups that generally wreaked enough havoc to help secure the win on the road.
Krejci, Thybulle and role players swing the game
Vit Krejci, who arrived in Portland with a reputation as a shooter that hasn’t fully shown up yet, did a little bit of everything in 19 minutes: 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting, 3-for-8 from three, one free throw, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Matisse Thybulle, notable in recent seasons mainly for missing games and slated to be a free agent this summer, played 12 minutes and underscored his disruptive profile with 5 points on 2-for-4 shooting (including a three), 3 rebounds, 1 steal and 2 blocks. Those contributions provided Chicago “countless headaches” on defense.
Donovan Clingan sidelined; Chicago’s size questioned
Donovan Clingan was sidelined by illness tonight, a detail described as not critical because the Bulls closely resemble a 6-foot-and-under team. The absence did not stop Robert Williams III from finishing with a 14-and-14 line in 23 minutes.
Broadcast chatter and game-day notes
Broadcasters spent extended minutes during the game speculating about how much sleep Lamar Hurd got the previous night, a tangent that drew laughter but frustrated at least one viewer trying to follow the action. The contest itself featured notable moments from Portland’s supporting cast and fast-paced stretches that matched early-game comparisons to a track meet.
The team’s daily roundup also highlighted a handful of broader topics connected to Portland’s season: one new idea prompting strong reactions; a measure intended to reduce tanking; Deni Avdija’s injured back causing issues for Portland’s stretch run; and the Blazers’ big hits in free agency this summer.
Charlotte is the next stop on Portland’s extended trip. The Blazers will face the Hornets on Saturday with a 10: 00 a. m. Pacific tip, which is 1: 00 p. m. ET.
