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Report Card: Trail Blazers Stay Atop Throne vs. Kings

By Perry Waggoner

Apr 5, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) and guard C.J. McCollum (3) walk up the court during the fourth quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Sacramento Kings 115-107. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) and guard C.J. McCollum (3) walk up the court during the fourth quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Sacramento Kings 115-107. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Grades and analysis from the Trail Blazers 115-107 win over DeMarcus Cousins and the lowly Sacramento Kings

Starters

Damian Lillard: 22 points / 8 assists / 2 rebounds

Lillard is a guy who always plays up to his competition, so you could understand a bit of a let down when the opposing player is Seth Curry, not Steph. With that, it wasn’t the greatest night from the field for Lillard. He made just 6 of his 19 shot attempts. That shouldn’t come as that much of a surprise though, as he’s averaged just 14 PPG against Sacramento this season. The Trail Blazers will certainly need him at the top of his game Thursday against the Thunder, a team they have beat just once this year. In that one victory, Lillard had 31 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds. In the two losses however, he averaged a meager line of 20.5 PPG/3 APG/3.5 RPG. If Portland wants to beat OKC and overtake Memphis for the coveted 5 seed, Lillard needs to have a big time performance. Grade: B+

CJ McCollum: 30 points / 3 assists / 2 steals

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It would be fair to say that the Trail Blazers very well would be leaving Sacramento with a loss if it weren’t for McCollum’s efforts. When the Kings were firing on all cylinders in the first half, he stepped up and single-handedly kept Portland within striking distance. After the first two quarters, McCollum led all players with 19 points, headlined by his four 3-pt field goals. The leading candidate for Most Improved Player has been on fire lately, shooting an outstanding 50% from the field over his last four contests. Grade: A+

Al-Farouq Aminu: 6 points / 7 rebounds/ 1 block

It’s time to officially welcome Aminu back to earth after a short period of playing out of this world basketball. He got just 21 minutes in last night’s game, but most of that can be attributed to the Kings tendency to play big and the rising play of Maurice Harkless. Nevertheless, it wasn’t the greatest of performances for Aminu, who made just one three pointer, despite averaging three per game over his last five games. That 28 point showing seems like along time ago now. Grade: C+

Maurice Harkless: 20 points / 16 rebounds / 2 steals

What else can you say about this guy? Just when you think Harkless has played the best he can, he goes out there and raises his game once again. Last night was full of season high’s for the Trail Blazers’ new-found star, who surpassed his previous records in points, total rebounds, offensive rebounds, field goals made, and three pointers made. All of that, I must add, coming in the second half, as he was held scoreless through the first two quarters. If the world hasn’t noticed what Harkless has been doing now for two weeks, last night’s game will certainly force them to take notice. He’s a game-changer as the playoffs approach. Grade: A+

Mason Plumlee: 12 points / 9 rebounds / 3 blocks

While it may not have been the flashiest of games, Plumlee was able to put a very sneaky good game together opposite DeMarcus Cousins. The big man had six offensive rebounds, which would be an even bigger story, had Harkless not grabbed a game high seven. Plumlee also fought through foul trouble and had a major impact for the Trail Blazers on defense, tying for the game high with three total blocks. Grade: A-

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Sixth Man of the Game

Gerald Henderson: 13 points / 2 rebounds / 2 steals

Considering that just one Portland starter had a positive plus/minus (McCollum), Henderson’s +19 proves just how important he was in this victory. Credit must also be given to Henderson for ruffling Cousins’ feathers, ending in yet another technical foul for the troubled Kings star. Offensively, Henderson’s 13 points extend a streak of six games scoring in double figures. Grade: A