Shaedon Sharpe led the Portland Trail Blazers to a thrilling 114-110 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday, scoring the Blazers’ final 11 points. His clutch performance included a deep three-pointer, a crucial steal, and several free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
The game was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams taking turns controlling the game. With just over a minute left, the Hawks were up 108-106, but Sharpe hit a huge three-pointer as the shot clock ran out, giving the Blazers a 109-108 lead with 1:03 remaining. “I was watching the clock, knew I had to get a shot off, and just took what the defense gave me,” Sharpe said.
After a key block by Jerami Grant and a steal by Sharpe, he was fouled and made two free throws, putting the Blazers up 111-108. The Hawks quickly scored, but Sharpe hit one more free throw, making it 112-110. With just 1.1 seconds left, Sharpe sealed the win by intercepting a bad pass from Trae Young and making two more free throws.
Sharpe finished the game with 32 points and five assists. Dalano Banton came off the bench to add 23 points, while Robert Williams III contributed 14 points and eight rebounds. Trae Young led the Hawks with 29 points and eight assists.
The Blazers struggled early, committing eight turnovers in the first quarter, allowing the Hawks to take a 16-point lead. But the Blazers fought back, playing much better in the second quarter, cutting the Hawks’ lead to 64-56 at halftime. In the third quarter, Portland turned things around with a 38-17 run, taking a 94-81 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Hawks made a push in the final period, tying the game at 99-99, but the Blazers held strong, with Sharpe’s shooting making the difference. Portland ended the game with 16 steals, forcing 27 turnovers by Atlanta, which led to 32 points for the Blazers.
The win was a big boost for the Blazers, who improved to 6-8. Despite missing key players like Deandre Ayton and Anfernee Simons, the Blazers’ defense and Sharpe’s clutch play helped them overcome the Hawks.
The Blazers will be back in action on Wednesday at 5 p.m. against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
