The Portland Trail Blazers played their best basketball of the season in a thrilling 106-105 win over the LA Clippers at the new Intuit Dome on Wednesday. They looked like a completely different team from their opening-season loss to the Warriors. In their 140-104 loss to Golden State, Chauncey Billups said that he "didn't think one guy on our team played well." This time around against the Clippers, practically everyone played exceptionally well to help pull off the upset.
When guarded by Toumani Camara, James Harden was held to seven points and three assists, shooting just 25 percent from the field. Scoot Henderson looks improved, particularly in finishing around the rim, with an efficient 14 points, six assists, and three rebounds. Donovan Clingan and Deandre Ayton even made three-pointers.
Deni Avdija isn't shooting the ball well, but had a pivotal moment to secure the game down the stretch with this clutch block:
DENIED BY DENI TO SAVE THE GAME ‼️ pic.twitter.com/FCB8HBKtK2
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) October 31, 2024
Everyone played their roles well, which is what is required to pull off an upset on the road against a more talented team. But there were two unexpected heroes that stood out as the x-factors in Portland's upset.
Kris Murray deserves to stay in Blazers' rotation
Kris Murray finished with the best plus-minus on the team at plus-14. He had five points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block in just 19 minutes of play. Murray connected on one of two attempts from beyond the arc and is now shooting 44.4 percent from deep on the season.
Shooting was a major concern surrounding Murray's game, as he shot just 26.8 from three as a rookie. His percentage is bound to regress, but he's proven to be a solid role player as a 3-and-D wing, which is something that Portland's roster needs more of.
Rayan Rupert has earned minutes for Portland
Rayan Rupert provided a much-needed sparkplug off the bench for the Blazers, playing lockdown defense and scoring seven points in just eight minutes in what was easily his best game of the season.
Clippers were up 90-82, 10:46 left
— Law Murray 🏟️ (@LawMurrayTheNU) October 31, 2024
Rayan Rupert single handled saved the Blazers and canceled the Clippers bench with these buckets in a 43-second span
Rupert said that his teammates told him "Thank you, way to be ready, way to be aggressive. They told me I changed the game." pic.twitter.com/IKuZVkz9Tz
Billups has given Rupert inconsistent minutes so far, ranging from a DNP to 17. He's certainly earned more minutes going forward after this game-altering performance against the Clippers. It's going to be difficult for him to get significant time when Shaedon Sharpe and Matisse Thybulle return, but he still needs to remain in the Blazers' rotation. His unique point-forward skill set gives Portland another dimension. And this past game against the Clippers was a prime example of the upside the 20-year-old possesses.