Trail Blazers' Duop Reath: Posts 14 points in finale
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Reath finished Sunday's 121-82 loss to the Kings with 14 points (5-12 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT), six rebounds, three steals and one block across 24 minutes.
Though Deandre Ayton (back) sat out the season finale, Reath wasn't called upon to start at center, as the Trail Blazers instead moved Moses Brown up to the top unit. Brown ended up playing just 15 minutes, however, with Reath instead seeing the most usage of any Portland center. The 27-year-old rookie closed the 2023-24 campaign with averages of 9.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 three-pointers, 1.0 assists, 0.6 blocks and 0.5 steals in 17.9 minutes per game over 68 appearances while serving as Ayton's top backup for most of the season. Both Ayton and Reath are under contract for the upcoming season, but it's unclear if Portland will head into 2024-25 with Reath as the primary backup. Robert Williams is on Portland's books through 2025-26 and had been earmarked for the backup center role before he underwent season-ending surgery in November to reconstruct a torn ligament in his right knee. Williams is expected to be fully healthy in time for training camp, and he could push Reath back down to third on the depth chart.
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Trail Blazers' Dalano Banton: Drops 17 points in finale
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Banton racked up 17 points (6-26 FG, 0-15 3Pt, 5-6 FT), three rebounds, seven assists and three steals in 39 minutes before getting ejected from Sunday's 121-82 loss to the Kings.
Banton came back to earth in the final game of the season, but there's no denying his prolific stat lines in the closing weeks. Portland has a $2.2M team option for next season, and Banton's standout play may compel the organization to pick it up.
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Trail Blazers' Kris Murray: Grabs 18 rebounds in final game
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Murray closed Sunday's 121-82 loss to the Kings with nine points (3-15 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 18 rebounds, one block and one steal across 44 minutes.
Murray was the only recent starter to play in the season finale, and he set a career high with 18 rebounds in the blowout loss. the Iowa product may not have had many opportunities to impress during his rookie season, but Portland's bevy of injuries throughout 2023-24 allowed the first-round pick to strut his stuff. There's little doubt he'll play a major role in Portland's continuing youth rebuild.
Banton was ejected from Sunday's game against the Kings after receiving a Flagrant 2 foul with 3:30 left in the fourth quarter, Sean Cunningham of Fox 40 Sacramento reports.
An abysmal shooting performance proceeded Banton's ejection, as he cemented himself in Trail Blazer history by becoming the first player to attempt 15 three-pointers without a make. Despite the disappointing end to the campaign, Banton made his mark and may have solidified an opportunity next season with his stellar play over the final two months of 2023-24. Since March 1 (23 appearances), Banton has averaged 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.7 blocks in 31.9 minutes per game.
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Trail Blazers' Moses Brown: Gets start Sunday
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Brown will start at center in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Kings.
With Deandre Ayton (back) sidelined, Brown will get the start at center. He has averaged 1.5 points and 7.0 rebounds across 11.8 minutes in four starts this season.
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Trail Blazers' Dalano Banton: Starting Sunday
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Banton will start at point guard in Sunday's season finale in Sacramento.
With Scoot Henderson (hip) sidelined, Banton will be inserted in the starting lineup. He has averaged 18.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists across 33.1 minutes in eight games as a starter.
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Trail Blazers' Jabari Walker: Won't play Sunday
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Walker (knee) is inactive Sunday versus Sacramento.
Walker's second season will end with 72 appearances, with the 6-foot-8 forward averaging 8.9 points and 7.1 rebounds in 23.6 minutes per game. Improving as a shooter will be a key factor in Walker's potential to step into a larger role in 2024-25, as he connected on just 29.5 percent of 1.9 three-pointers per game this season.
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Trail Blazers' Anfernee Simons: Officially out for finale
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Simons (knee) will not play in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Kings.
No surprise here, as Simons has not played since March 22 and was deemed doubtful before the game. He will finish the season with career-high averages of 22.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.4 triples across 34.4 minutes per game. The 24-year-old has two more years remaining on his current contract.
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Trail Blazers' Taze Moore: Signs contract with Portland
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Moore signed a 10-day contract with the Trail Blazers on Sunday.
Moore signed a contract with Portland on the final day of the regular season and may see minutes during Sunday's game in Sacramento, as the Trail Blazers have only nine active players, including Moore. Moore spent most of the season playing for Portland's G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix. He made only four NBA appearances this season, totaling six points in 10 minutes.
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Trail Blazers' Deandre Ayton: Won't play in finale
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Ayton (back) has been ruled out for Sunday's regular-season finale against Sacramento.
Ayton will finish his sixth NBA season with a career-low 55 appearances. The 25-year-old averaged 16.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.8 blocks in 32.4 minutes per contest when available.
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Trail Blazers' Scoot Henderson: Out against Kings
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Henderson (hip) won't play in Sunday's regular-season finale in Sacramento.
With Portland out of playoff contention, Henderson's rookie season has come to an end. It was an up-and-down year for the No. 3 overall pick in the draft due to inefficiency and injuries. He will finish with averages of 14.0 points, 5.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 1.4 triples and 0.8 steals across 28.5 minutes in 62 games. The 20-year-old shot 38.5 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from beyond the arc.
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Trail Blazers' Deandre Ayton: Questionable to play Sunday
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Ayton (back) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Kings.
Ayton left Friday's game against the Rockets due to low back soreness, and it remains to be seen whether the big man will be available for the season finale. However, it wouldn't be surprising if the Blazers elect to hold him out, as Portland has nothing to play for Sunday. Ayton heads into the regular-season finale with averages of 16.7 points and 11.1 rebounds per game across 55 starts.
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Trail Blazers' Anfernee Simons: Doubtful to play Sunday
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Simons (knee) is doubtful to play Sunday against the Kings.
Simons hasn't played since March 22, when he lasted just 22 minutes in a 125-117 loss to the Clippers, but there's an outside chance he'll see the court in the final game of the campaign. The Blazers could opt to hold him out, however, as the team has nothing to play for in the season finale. Simons enters the regular-season finale with averages of 22.6 points, 5.5 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game across 46 starts.
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Trail Blazers' Scoot Henderson: Iffy for Sunday
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Henderson is questionable for Sunday's game against the Kings due to a left hip injury.
This is a new issue for Henderson, and Portland could be tempted to err on the side of caution for the season finale. If Henderson ends up playing, he would likely continue to see heavy usage. During Friday's loss to Houston, Henderson logged 30 points (10-23 FG, 6-7 3Pt, 4-5 FT), seven assists, five rebounds, one block and one steal in 34 minutes.
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Trail Blazers' Jerami Grant: Ruled out for Sunday
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Grant (hamstring) is out for Sunday's game against the Kings.
There's no point in the Blazers risking Grant in a meaningless game, as the team has been out of playoff contention for quite some time. Grant was productive when available, but his final appearance came on March 11. In fact, Grant played just seven times since the All-Star break. He ends the campaign with averages of 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game across 54 appearances.
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Trail Blazers' Jabari Walker: Unlikely to play Sunday
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Walker is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Kings with left knee tendinitis.
Walker left Friday's loss to the Rockets early due to the knee injury, and the Trail Blazers seem to be leaning toward playing it safe with the second-year forward in the season finale. His expected absence could pave the way for Justin Minaya to step into a larger role.
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Trail Blazers' Matisse Thybulle: Won't suit up Sunday
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Thybulle (ankle) will not play Sunday against the Kings.
Thybulle hasn't played since March 29 due to a right ankle impingement, and now his regular season is officially over. During his first full season with Portland, Thybulle compiled averages of 5.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.2 three-pointers across 65 appearances.
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Trail Blazers' Malcolm Brogdon: Out for Sunday
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Grant (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Kings.
Brogdon's absence streak will extend to 33 games Sunday, and that will end his regular season. In his first campaign with Portland, Brogdon made just 39 appearances, posting averages of 15.7 points, 5.5 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 0.7 steals and 2.1 three-pointers.
