NBA: Jerami Grant returns, helps Trail Blazers take care of Hawks

Shaedon Sharpe scored 24 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and dished out five assists to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 117-101 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night.

Jerami Grant contributed 16 points off the bench in his return from a 14-game absence due to an Achilles injury. Backup Rayan Rupert added 13 points, while Jrue Holiday and reserve Caleb Love each scored 12 points. The win marked Portland’s sixth victory in their last eight games.

For Atlanta, Onyeka Okongwu hit five 3-pointers on his way to 26 points and added nine rebounds. CJ McCollum scored 20 points off the bench, and Jalen Johnson recorded 12 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. Nickeil Alexander-Walker chipped in 11 points, seven assists, and six rebounds, while Dyson Daniels added 10 points. The Hawks dropped their second consecutive game and their ninth straight loss in Portland.

Trail Blazers standout Deni Avdija missed his second straight game with a back injury.

The game remained close into the fourth quarter, with Okongwu’s basket pulling Atlanta within 91-89. Grant then sank two free throws to spark a 12-0 run, capped by a three-pointer from Duop Reath, giving Portland a 103-89 lead with 8:57 remaining.

Atlanta closed to 105-98 on a 3-pointer by Vit Krejci with 4:59 left, but Portland responded with nine straight points to seal the win.

The Hawks shot 43.2% from the field and 31.8% from three-point range, while Kristaps Porzingis (Achilles) and Zaccharie Risacher (knee) each missed their fourth straight game. Portland made 45.3% of its shots and 30.4% from beyond the arc, with Donovan Clingan collecting 12 rebounds.

Atlanta had led 77-68 late in the third quarter after a three-pointer by Mouhamed Gueye. Portland then went on a 13-2 run, with Love scoring the final five points to take an 85-81 lead. The Hawks regained the lead briefly before Rupert’s buzzer-beating three-pointer gave Portland an 88-87 advantage entering the fourth quarter.

Okongwu scored 13 points in the first half as Atlanta led 56-54 at the break. His three-point play with 2:11 left in the half gave the Hawks their first lead of the game at 49-48. Sharpe had 18 first-half points for Portland.

-Field Level Media/Reuters