Clingan and Rupert showcase their skills as the Blazers dominate the Jazz.
Rookie Donovan Clingan delivered a monster performance as the Portland Trail Blazers cruised past the Utah Jazz, 124-86, in their final preseason game. The 7-foot-2 center posted a dominant double-double, finishing with 14 points on 7-of-12 shooting and a staggering 20 rebounds in just 24 minutes of play.
Clingan’s impact was especially felt on the offensive glass, where he hauled in 10 offensive rebounds. He added 4 assists and 4 blocks, showcasing his all-around game and defensive presence in the paint. The former UConn star gave the Blazers a glimpse of his potential heading into the regular season.
Second-year guard Rayan Rupert also had a standout night, scoring 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Despite going 1-of-5 from three-point range, Rupert’s efficient night inside the arc helped fuel Portland’s offensive dominance in just 22 minutes of action.
Veteran forward Jerami Grant contributed 18 points to the blowout victory. The Blazers was up by 27 points at halftime and never let Utah back into the game.
The Trail Blazers will look to carry this momentum into their regular season opener on Wednesday night at the Moda Center, where they’ll face the Golden State Warriors.
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The Portland Trail Blazers find themselves with an intriguing logjam at the center position, fielding four rotation-level big men as they navigate a season of transition. Their No. 7 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Donovan Clingan, joins a frontcourt brimming with talent, but his potential future as the franchise’s anchor looms large.
Standing at 7-foot-2, the former University of Connecticut star arrives fresh off two NCAA titles, carrying a reputation as a defense-first force. However, before Clingan can claim his place as the Blazers’ center of the future, he’ll have to prove himself alongside established veterans.
Deandre Ayton, the former No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, is set to start as the Blazers’ primary center this season. After a turbulent beginning in Portland last year, the 7-foot Arizona product found his rhythm in the latter half of the season, averaging 16.7 points on an efficient 57 percent from the field, alongside 11.1 rebounds and solid defensive contributions.
With Ayton owed $69.6 million over the next two seasons, the Blazers are betting on him to hold down the paint in the short term, though his long-term future remains a question mark.
Other big men that Blazer might field are Robert Williams III, a 2022 All-Defensive Second Team selection, and Duop Reath, an emerging rookie standout.
While Ayton will begin the season as the starter, Clingan’s development could make him the centerpiece of Portland’s frontcourt in the years to come—if he can adjust to the rigors of NBA competition and prove his mettle on both ends of the floor.
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