CHARLOTTE -- Jabari Walker made two free throws with just over a second to play to send their March 2 game versus the Grizzlies in Memphis to overtime, where they would go on to win by seven. A month later, Walker would once again step up to line in a very similar situation, and with the same result.
The second-year forward out of Colorado stepped to the free throw line with 1.1 seconds to play and knocked down a pair in the final points of what would be an 89-86 victory versus the Hornets in front of an announced crowd of 14,209 Wednesday night in Charlotte.
“I love it. I don’t know, I think I’m starting to get used to the pressure,” said Walker. “I remember the free throws in Memphis were my biggest ones and tonight was another moment so I kinda wanted that. It gives you extra energy to get the rebound knowing you’ve got free throws, you’re gonna get fouled. I enjoy the big moment.”
The Trail Blazers are now 20-56 overall and 9-29 on the road this season. The win ends a 10-game losing streak and splits the season series versus the Hornets 1-1.
“You could definitely hear it, the guys start to talk about it like, ‘Dang, when was the last time we got a win?’” said Walker. “We’re doing all these practices, we’re working really hard but for it to end in a win, it makes you happy, especially with the work we’ve been putting in on the road, practices, all that.”
Thursday’s game, which featured nine lead changes and seven ties, came down to the waining moments, much like Monday’s one-point loss to the Magic in Orlando. Both teams failing to shoot better than 41 percent from the field made for a lot of rebound opportunities, and the Blazers took full advantage, with Walker and Deandre Ayton combined to log more rebounds (38) than the entire Charlotte roster (36).
So when Brandon Miller missed what would have been a go-ahead jumper with 3.1 seconds to play, Walker did what he had done all night: secured the rebound and pushed the ball up the floor before being fouled with just over a second to play in regulation. Two free throws wouldn’t ice the game, but it would all but ensure at least overtime, if not a win in regulation.
Walker, after seeing Scoot Henderson miss a pair at the line the possession prior, calmly stepped up to the line and made both attempts to put Portland’s advantage to three. From there, all they would have to do is avoid giving up a three -- they got a bit lucky with Davis Bertans getting a good look as the buzzer sounded that would miss the mark -- to get their first win in over two weeks and their first road win in just over a month.
“Bari was incredible, he was incredible,” said Chauncey Billups. “We depend on him for his defense, he’s doing a really good job of guarding, I thought he had some incredible, one-on-one defensive stops against Brandon Miller. And then just his rebounds, he has a knack for that ball but rebounding most of the time is about toughness. You got to get in there and you’ve got to go probably four times the amount of times you actually come up with the ball. It’s a lot of empty trips when you go in there, but he’s so competitive and he’s so tough. We needed every single one of them.”
Walker finished the game with 14 points and a career-high 22 rebounds to go with two assists and a block in 41 minutes.
“It felt great,” said Walker. “That’s the result of effort, playing for your teammates, sacrificing your body for the greater good of the team.”
Ayton posted a game-high 24 points on 12-of-22 shooting from the field to go with 16 rebounds and two assists in 37 minutes. Scoot Henderson had one of his better offensive games of his rookie season, posting 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field and 4-of-7 shooting from three and 10 assists in 37 minutes.
“I thought (Henderson) just played a pretty good floor game, for the most part,” said Billups. “Defensively, he was physical, he did what he had to do. He didn’t get in foul trouble, which takes anybody off of their rhythm, naturally. I was very happy for him.”
Henderson now has four games of at least 20 points and 10 assists this season, no other rookie has even one such game. Dalano Banton rounded out Portland’s double-digit scores with 12 points in 33 minutes.
Rookie Brandon Miller, selected with the second overall pick, led the Hornets with 21 points on 9-of-20 shooting.
Next up, the Trail Blazers head to the nation’s capital for the sixth game of a seven-game trip versus the Wizards Friday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.