Portland is now 37-37 on the season.
The Portland Trail Blazers got back to .500 on Wednesday night with a convincing 130-99 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. The offense was humming, the defense was locked in, and Portland beat a team it was supposed to beat by even more than expected, which is the sign of a good team.
This was a balanced effort from start to finish. The Blazers had seven players score in double figures, with Scoot Henderson leading the way with 23 points. Donovan Clingan also had an impressive night with 14 points and 15 rebounds, continuing to make his presence felt on both ends. Deni Avdija was a little quieter than usual, but still finished with 18 points and seven assists in another strong all-around performance.
Portland controlled this game in just about every way possible. The Blazers dominated the glass, moved the ball well, shot nearly 50% from beyond the arc on high volume, got to the free throw line with purpose, and won nearly every statistical category that mattered. They jumped out to a 42-27 lead in the first quarter and never really looked back from there.
It was the kind of performance you want to see against a shorthanded opponent. No playing with their food, no unnecessary drama, just a team taking care of business at home and doing it in convincing fashion.
From here, Portland will remain at home and wait for the Dallas Mavericks, who will come to Moda Center on Friday. That will be another game the Blazers should feel good about, and another opportunity to get above .500.