It wasn’t pretty, but it was a victory, and at this point, that’s all that matters for the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Blazers started Sunday afternoon’s game against the Toronto Raptors sluggishly, fell behind by as much as 16, but got their act together enough to win 105-102 at the Moda Center.
Portland scored 19 points in the final six minutes to overcome a nine-point deficit. The game ended with guard Matisse Thybulle, making his first appearance of the season, blocking a three-point attempt by Orlando Robinson as time expired.
The Blazers' chances of earning a play-in berth in the Western Conference remain dim, but this victory helped their cause.
Also on Sunday, 10th-place Dallas (33-36) lost 130-125 at home to Philadelphia and the 11th-place Phoenix Suns (31-37) lost 107-96 at the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Blazers (29-39) ended the day 3½ games behind the Mavericks and two games behind the Suns.
Anfernee Simons led the Blazers with 22 points. Toumani Camara added 21 points and Deni Avdija finished with 19 points, six rebounds and six assists.
The Blazers trailed 27-19 at the end of the first quarter after shooting just 30.4% with six turnovers. Advdija scored eight in the quarter, including two late threes. The second came with two seconds on the clock and set the halftime score at 52-52.
Both teams exchanged runs until the Raptors led 95-86 with 5:36 remaining. But the Blazers answered with a run to go up 96-95 with 2:42 following a Camara drive and score.
A Simons three put the Blazers up 103-97 with 1:34 to go but the Raptors hung around.
Down 105-102, Toronto went to Robinson, who got open for a clean shot. But Thybulle recovered, flew over and swatted the shot from behind to end the game.
Raptors Trail Blazers Basketball
Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (23) drives to the basket as Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (19) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 16, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman) APAP
WHAT IT MEANS
The Blazers got a much-needed victory with a chance to move to within three games of the Mavericks when they host Washington (15-51) on Monday night with Dallas off.
The Raptors (23-44) entered the day having won six out of seven.
THYBULLE IN ACTION
Thybulle made his first appearance of the season after returning from an ankle sprain. Thybulle entered the game with 2:51 remaining in the third quarter to an ovation.
He played six minutes and had two steals, a blocked shot and two rebounds.
GRANT OUT
Blazers forward Jerami Grant missed his third consecutive game with right knee tendinitis.
Robert Williams III sat out with a right knee sprain.
NEXT UP
The Blazers host the Wizards at 7 p.m. Monday.
-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)