Saturday night, the Portland Trail Blazers seemingly set the template for the rest of the season: A full campaign to push for tenth place in the Western Conference and reach the play-in game, backed by a rested blowout victory at home over a tired, hapless Charlotte Hornets. With a clear effort to finish the season using a playoff rotation, and attempt to win every possible game, we’re a long way from preseason hopes of a possible top-five draft pick — unless there is some very good lottery luck, like the Hawks had a year ago.
Portland now has the same number of wins as the San Antonio Spurs, who have shut down their injured star Victor Wembanyama.