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October 14, 2026 at 1:44 PM UTC

Postgame Report

Blazers Use Preseason Stop in Sacramento to Hand Kings a Fourth Straight Loss, 110-98

Deni Avdija scored 26 in 25 minutes as Portland beat a thin Sacramento team 110-98 and sent the Kings to 0-4 in the preseason.

Three Takeaways From Kings BLANK Loss to Trail Blazers — Sports Illustrated
Three Takeaways From Kings BLANK Loss to Trail Blazers — Sports Illustrated

Portland beat Sacramento 110-98 on Tuesday night in a preseason game that was never especially tense. Deni Avdija did most of the early damage, finishing with 26 points, nine rebounds and four assists in 25 minutes. Damian Lillard and Ja Morant each added 14, and Morant had six assists. Jrue Holiday and Toumani Camara both scored 11, and Robert Williams III chipped in nine points and eight rebounds in 16 minutes.

The Kings played without Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk. Neither was in uniform, and neither had been seen taking part in shootaround earlier in the day. That left Sacramento thin up front and thin on shot creation. Leaky Black led all players with 32 minutes and scored 10, and Nique Clifford played 30 but scored just two. Jonathan Mogbo had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Precious Achiuwa did the same with 12 and 11. Tristen Newton's 15 off the bench led a group that kept the score respectable without ever threatening to turn it.

The result leaves Sacramento winless at 0-4 in the preseason. Portland came in 2-0 and looked like the more settled team, with a clear idea of who plays when. For the Kings, the missing names are a bigger story than the loss. Trade talk has trailed both Sabonis and Monk, and nights like this one make the questions harder to wave off, even with the games not yet counting.

For Portland, this was the last tune-up before the Oct. 21 home opener, and Scott Brooks' staff treated it that way. The Blazers played everyone, deep into the second half. Scoot Henderson, Donovan Clingan, Yang Hansen, Sidy Cissoko and Jeremy Sochan all got minutes, and the rotation never tightened the way it will when the games count. The score matters little now, but the minutes should help when the real schedule begins.

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