Blazers' Sidy Cissoko Shows His Value Long After the Points Stop

Sidy Cissoko scored his final point Friday night with 10 seconds remaining in the first half.

Nearly two quarters later, Micah Nori was bringing him back onto the floor with the Portland Trail Blazers trying to close out a road victory.

That's a pretty interesting development for a player whose offensive limitations once threatened to bury him in Portland's rotation.

Cissoko finished with 15 points and seven rebounds in the Blazers' 128-120 victory over the Sacramento Kings, helping Portland improve to 2-0 under its new head coach.

All 15 points came before halftime … and somehow, the second half might have offered a better indication of what Cissoko brings to this team.

The 22-year-old shot 5-of-8 from the field and 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, adding four offensive rebounds and a steal without committing a turnover in 26 minutes.

Portland needed that production early.

The Blazers fell behind by as many as 12 in the first quarter, struggling to establish any offensive consistency as Sacramento controlled much of the opening half.

Cissoko provided an unexpected spark off the bench, attacking the glass and making the Kings account for him offensively.

His contributions extended beyond scoring, too.

With two seconds remaining in the first quarter, Cissoko drew an offensive foul on Zach LaVine. Late in the second, he picked off a Darius Acuff Jr. pass to help interrupt another Sacramento possession.

Small plays, sure … but exactly the kind Portland needed while trying to keep the game within reach.

The Blazers entered halftime trailing 64-59.

Then everything changed.

Portland erupted for 44 third-quarter points, turning a five-point deficit into a 103-90 advantage entering the fourth. Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara took control offensively, while Damian Lillard and Ja Morant continued drawing attention from Sacramento's defense.

Cissoko didn't score another point.

As the game tightened in the closing minutes, Nori found a different use for the same player who had helped keep Portland afloat before halftime.

With 43 seconds remaining and Portland protecting a five-point lead, Cissoko checked in for Lillard on defense. Nori briefly reversed the substitution after Sacramento committed an offensive foul, then turned back to Cissoko with 28.3 seconds remaining.

The Blazers closed out an eight-point victory — and Cissoko's presence during those defensive possessions said plenty about the different ways Nori intends to use him.

Consider where things stood entering training camp.

Cissoko averaged just 5.1 points last season while shooting 29.8 percent from three. His defense helped him secure a standard NBA contract, but Portland's growing collection of guards and wings raised legitimate questions about his role.

Finding minutes for someone who isn't a consistent offensive threat was always going to be difficult.

Friday demonstrated why Cissoko remains useful.

When Portland needed a spark, he provided 15 first-half points. When the Blazers needed to protect their advantage, Nori valued his defensive presence enough to make late substitutions involving the franchise's biggest stars.

And with Robert Williams III providing an efficient 13 points off the bench and Camara knocking down five 3-pointers, Portland's 128-120 win reinforced just how many different sources of production Nori has available.

There are limits to how far this goes. Cissoko shot 29.8 percent from three last season, and making two against Sacramento doesn't settle the spacing questions that come with playing him alongside Portland's stars.

But Nori doesn't have to build a lineup around Cissoko's jump shot.

He can use him to extend possessions on the offensive glass, disrupt opposing ball handlers or change a defensive matchup when the situation demands it.

Friday, the same player gave Portland offense when it needed points and defense when it needed a stop. Two completely different responsibilities … both valuable on a roster where minutes are going to be difficult to distribute.

And that's what makes Cissoko's situation so interesting.

Portland spent the offseason adding recognizable names, leaving Cissoko facing an uphill battle for playing time. There are still questions about where he'll fit once Nori settles on his preferred combinations.

But Portland's crowded roster threatened to make Cissoko an afterthought.

With 28.3 seconds remaining and Sacramento still within striking distance, Nori treated him like a necessity.