Around the same time the Portland Trail Blazers pulled away from the San Antonio Spurs for a 120-109 home win Sunday afternoon, the franchise’s postseason hopes died 2,500 miles away at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
That’s where the Sacramento Kings defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, mathematically eliminating the Trail Blazers (35-44) from the Western Conference play-in race.
“Of course they did,” Blazers forward Kris Murray responded when a reporter told him about the Kings’ 120-113 upset of the East-leading Cavs.
Murray delivered the line at the postgame podium with a tinge of sarcasm before chuckling.