For the fourth time this week, a double digit underdog was victorious in the National Basketball Association. On Wednesday, it was the Portland Trail Blazers’s turn to be in the win column . Despite being projected to lose by 10 points, the Trail Blazers defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 122-110 at the Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
With the win, the Trail Blazers improved to a record of nine wins and 13 losses. The Cavaliers dropped to a record of 13 wins and 10 losses. It may be a surprise to some that the Cavaliers were a 10 point favourite when they are only three and a half games ahead of the Trail Blazers in the NBA standings.
Portland outscored Cleveland in the first three quarters. Portland led 36-33 after the first 12 minutes, outscored Cleveland 32-25 in the second quarter to take a 10 point halftime lead of 68-58. Then in the third quarter, Portland had a 31-27 advantage to take a lead of 99-85.
Six different Trail Blazers reached double digits in points. Small forward Deni Avdija of Beit Zera, Israel led the way with 27 points. Canadian shooting guard Shaedon Sharpe of London, Ontario and shooting guard Caleb Love of St. Louis, Missouri had 20 points each off the bench, power forward Toumani Camara of Brussels, Belgium had 17 points, forward Jerami Grant of Portland, Oregon had 16 points, and small forward Sidy Cissoko of Saint-Maurice, France had 11 points. Meanwhile, center Donovan Clingan of Bristol, Connecticut had 13 rebounds.
This was the second time this season Portland won as a double digit underdog. On November 21, Portland was a 10.5 point underdog to the Golden State Warriors, but won 127-123.
