Portland Trail Blazers Lose Season Opener Against Kings

PORTLAND, OR — The Portland Trail Blazers lost their first game of the new season. They had hoped that playing at home would give them an advantage but they fell short, losing to the Sacramento Kings, 124-121.

The Blazers were behind at the end of each quarter. They entered the fourth down by 15 and while they rallied – outscoring the Kings 36-24m they lost by three.

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The loss comes after the Blazers did not have the kind of offseason teams readying for a championship consider ideal. They fired the coach who had led them to eight straight postseason appearances.

They hired a new coach who was accused of sexual assault, which he has denied. They talked about trading one star while another one talked about leaving. Then they went winless in the preseason.

While the team was looking to the Bucks who went winless in preseason last year and became NBA champs, it won't get any easier for them.

Their next game is Saturday against reigning Western Conference champs, the Phoenix Suns.