Trail Blazers Clinch No. 8 Seed, Advance to Play-In Tournament

Portland defeats Sacramento Kings 122-110 in regular season finale

Apr. 13, 2026 at 8:15am by

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the players and action on the court.The Trail Blazers' play-in tournament berth is secured through a hard-fought victory over the Kings, setting the stage for a high-stakes matchup with the Suns.Portland Today

The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Sacramento Kings 122-110 on Sunday night to clinch the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and a spot in the NBA's play-in tournament. Deni Avdija led the Blazers with 25 points and 10 assists, while Jrue Holiday added 23 points. The Kings, who tied the Utah Jazz for last place in the West at 22-60, were paced by Precious Achiuwa's 27 points and 11 rebounds.

Why it matters

The Blazers' victory secures their spot in the play-in tournament, where they will face the seventh-seeded Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. The winner of that game will advance to face the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs. For the Kings, the loss caps off a disappointing season as they finish tied for the worst record in the Western Conference.

The details

After the teams ended the first quarter tied at 33, the Blazers pushed their lead in the second quarter, capping it off with a Matisse Thybulle 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to take a 77-57 advantage. The Kings made a run in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 81-74, but the Blazers were able to maintain their lead and take a 96-84 advantage into the fourth quarter. The Kings got as close as 110-101 late, but could not complete the comeback.

  • The game was played on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
  • The Blazers will face the Suns in the play-in tournament on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.

The players

Deni Avdija

A forward for the Portland Trail Blazers who led the team with 25 points and 10 assists in the win.

Jrue Holiday

A guard for the Portland Trail Blazers who scored 23 points in the victory.

Precious Achiuwa

A forward for the Sacramento Kings who had 27 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.

Nique Clifford

A guard for the Sacramento Kings who scored 24 points in the defeat.

Maxime Raynaud

A forward for the Sacramento Kings who had 21 points in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The Trail Blazers will head to Phoenix to play the seventh-seeded Suns on Tuesday night, with the winner advancing to a first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs.

The takeaway

The Trail Blazers' victory secures their spot in the play-in tournament, where they will have a chance to earn a playoff berth. For the Kings, the loss caps off a disappointing season as they finish tied for the worst record in the Western Conference.