Indiana PacersOpen full analysis
Portland Trail BlazersOpen full analysis
Portland defeated Indiana 131–111 on March 8 at Moda Center, with Shea Henderson leading the Trail Blazers with 28 points and Jalen Grant adding 21 in a wire-to-wire performance that fell short of the Vegas total of 238.5. The home team's offensive efficiency of 126.1 proved decisive; Portland shot 50.5 percent from the field and made 15 three-pointers while holding the Pacers to 43.2 percent and forcing 12 turnovers. Indiana's Pascal Siakam (22 points) and JaQuan Huff (16 points) couldn't overcome a second-quarter collapse in which the Pacers scored just 22 points—a 17-point deficit by halftime that proved insurmountable. Portland's defensive rating of 107.2 stifled Indiana's 107.2 offensive rating, and the Trail Blazers' 53 rebounds to 38 gave them crucial second-chance opportunities. The Pacers' nine steals showed defensive intensity but came too late to matter. Portland's balanced attack with 29 assists demonstrates the efficiency that will be critical as the team pursues playoff positioning.
