Blazers hold back Hornets to end 10-game losing skid

Deandre Ayton had a monster game with 24 points and 16 rebounds and Jabari Walker had 14 points and a career-high 22 rebounds.

With Charlotte’s two 7-foot centers out, the Blazers held a 55-36 edge on the glass.

Charlotte shot 5 of 31 from beyond the arc just hours after Steve Clifford announced that he is stepping down as head coach after the season.

“The last probably five or six minutes I thought Scoot was really good at slowing down and getting the ball to DA (Ayton) where it should’ve been,” Portland coach Chauncey Billups said. “Obviously Jabari was a man amongst boys out there tonight, getting his career high in rebounds and hitting the two big free throws.”

With the game tied at 81, Henderson drove and dished to Walker for the go-ahead layup. After Tre Mann missed his sixth straight 3-pointer at the other end, Henderson hit a foul line jumper to make it a two-possession game with 1:09 to play.

Miller, who had missed his first seven 3s, finally knocked one down from the top of the key bringing the crowd to its feet. Ayton’s putback pushed the lead back to three, but Miller answered with a short jumper.

The stage was then set for the rookies and a fantastic ending, but both came up short in the clutch.

Henderson was fouled with 18.5 seconds left and missed both free throws. That opened the door for Miller to put the Hornets ahead, but he missed a floater over Ayton.

After Walker made two free throws, Davis Bertans missed a 3-point attempt at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime.

“It’s good to get the win, but I gotta have those free throws,” Henderson said. “Can’t have any slips at the end of the game like that.”

Both teams played short-handed.

The Hornets played without a number of key players including leading scorer Miles Bridges, point guards Vasa Micic and center Nick Richards due to injuries. LaMelo Ball has already been ruled out for the season, while Mark Williams, Seth Curry and Cody Martin remain out as well.

The Blazers are without Malcolm Brogdon, Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons, Matisse Thybulle, Shaedon Sharpe and Robert Williams.

UP NEXT

Blazers at Golden State on Friday night.

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BLAZERS 89, HORNETS 86

PORTLAND (89) — Murray 3-6 0-1 6, Walker 4-17 5-5 14, Ayton 12-22 0-0 24, Henderson 9-17 0-2 22, Rupert 1-5 2-2 4, Banton 5-13 1-2 12, Reath 3-10 0-0 7, Hagans 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 37-94 8-12 89.

CHARLOTTE (86) — Bertans 2-7 2-2 7, Thor 4-5 1-1 9, G.Williams 1-6 2-2 5, Mann 4-11 3-4 11, Miller 9-20 2-3 21, Black 2-2 0-0 4, Pokusevski 2-6 6-8 11, Bolden 3-3 1-2 7, McGowens 3-9 0-0 7, Smith Jr. 2-9 0-0 4. Totals 32-78 17-22 86.

Portland 30 15 22 22—89

Charlotte 21 23 22 20—86

3-Point Goals—Portland 7-26 (Henderson 4-7, Walker 1-3, Banton 1-4, Reath 1-6, Ayton 0-1, Rupert 0-1, Hagans 0-2, Murray 0-2), Charlotte 5-31 (McGowens 1-2, G.Williams 1-3, Pokusevski 1-3, Bertans 1-6, Miller 1-8, Thor 0-1, Smith Jr. 0-2, Mann 0-6). Rebounds—Portland 55 (Walker 23), Charlotte 37 (Bolden 8). Assists—Portland 19 (Henderson 10), Charlotte 22 (G.Williams 11). Total Fouls—Portland 19, Charlotte 15. A—14,209 (19,077)