Blazers Rally to Overthrow Kings, Clinch 8th in West

Portland secures a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament with a win over Sacramento in the season finale.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:42am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game in progress, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of bright, contrasting colors.The Blazers' high-energy comeback victory over the Kings showcases the team's resilience and determination as they clinch a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament.Today in Sacramento

The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Sacramento Kings 116-104 in the final game of the 2025-26 NBA regular season. The win clinches the 8th seed in the Western Conference for the Blazers, securing their spot in the upcoming NBA Play-In Tournament. Portland was led by a strong shooting performance, including 5 three-pointers from Deni Avdija, and took advantage of 17 Kings turnovers to score 30 points off takeaways.

Why it matters

The Blazers' victory over the Kings ensures they will have a chance to make the 2026 NBA Playoffs through the Play-In Tournament. After missing the playoffs the past few seasons, this represents an important step forward for Portland as they look to return to the postseason.

The details

The Blazers jumped out to a big lead in the second quarter, outscoring the Kings 77-47 by halftime. Portland's defense forced 17 Sacramento turnovers, leading to 30 points off those takeaways. The Blazers also dominated the offensive glass, grabbing 18 offensive rebounds for 29 second-chance points. Deni Avdija led the way for Portland, knocking down 5 three-pointers on 9 attempts.

  • The game was played on Sunday, April 13, 2026.
  • The Blazers will face the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Play-In Tournament on Tuesday, April 15, 2026 at 7:00 PM Pacific Time.

The players

Deni Avdija

A forward for the Portland Trail Blazers who had a strong shooting performance in the season finale, making 5 three-pointers.

Donovan Clingan

A center for the Portland Trail Blazers who was positioned near the rim to defend multiple situations.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The Blazers continue their habit of dropping bigs to the lane to defend multiple situations. It makes some sense, since they want to keep Donovan Clingan near the rim, in prime position for blocks or rebounds. But opponents are making mincemeat out of the defense.”

— Dave Deckard, Author

“Turnovers proved the saving grace for Portland's defense, particularly in the pivotal second period when they streaked away. This facet of the 'D' is unquestionable, at least. The Kings looked smooth in the halfcourt, but as soon as Portland started pressuring them full court, they started throwing away the ball.”

— Dave Deckard, Author

What’s next

The Blazers will face the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Play-In Tournament on Tuesday, April 15, 2026 at 7:00 PM Pacific Time. The winner of that game will advance to the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

The takeaway

The Blazers' victory over the Kings secures their spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament, giving them a chance to return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2020-21 season. While their defensive approach has some vulnerabilities, Portland was able to force turnovers and dominate the offensive glass to pull away from the Kings.