Blazers Open Season 2-0

The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Sacramento Kings on Monday night, snapping a two-game opening stretch that left the team with a 2-0 record. The win sets up a Tuesday matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers at 10 p.m. ET, broadcast on NBC and Peacock.

Damian Lillard, who signed with Portland in July 2025, played a supporting role in the victories. He averaged 28.5 minutes across the first two games. Lillard scored 25 points in the season opener against the Lakers and added 19 points in the win over Sacramento.

Lillard returned to the team that drafted him after the Milwaukee Bucks waived him in 2025. The move freed up two years and $113 million on his contract. Lillard told NBC News that Portland was the first organization to contact him following the buyout.

"I'm really thankful that as soon as I was waived, it was the first opportunity presented to me," Lillard said. "They know that I can be counted on."

The Blazers' current roster reflects the financial assets generated by Lillard's previous trade to Milwaukee. The exchange brought in Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija. The subsequent rebuild allowed Portland to select Donovan Clingan in the draft. Lillard noted that his departure enabled the team to accumulate the assets necessary for this reconstruction.

First-year head coach Micah Nori has utilized a deep rotation through the first two games. Of the 10 players who appeared in both contests, nine averaged at least 12 minutes. Only Avdija played more, averaging 30.5 minutes per game. Nori even benched both Lillard and point guard Ja Morant during a late possession against the Kings to deploy additional defenders.

Morant, who joined the roster in the summer, praised the group's willingness to share minutes. "Obviously, minutes got to be spread out," Morant said after the Kings game. "But if we all are unselfish, ego-free and just want the best way .. there shouldn't be no problems."

Lillard described his current role as less physically demanding than his previous seasons. He stated that the team structure allows him to remain healthy into the postseason without carrying the sole burden of offensive production.