Ayton drops 30-19 double-double in return, Blazers survive against Raptors in overtime

Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton returned to the lineup Sunday (PHL) and led the team to a 128-118 overtime win over the Toronto Raptors at the Moda Center.

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Ayton, who missed five games with a sprained right wrist, scored 30 points with 19 rebounds. It’s his fourth consecutive double-double, dating back to the last time he played in late February.

Deandre Ayton makes a resounding return, scoring a season-high 30 PTS accompanied by 19 REB in Portland's OT win 💪 #RepublikaNgNBA #RipCity pic.twitter.com/KUoMS4oFtT

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The Blazers needed every bit of Ayton’s production in this one. Portland led 63-47 at halftime, and by as many as 20 in the second half before the Raptors managed to claw their way back into the game.

Dalano Banton had 25 points and Anfernee Simons added 23 to snap a three-game Portland losing streak. The Blazers (18-45) were playing the second of a back-to-back after a 123-107 loss to the Houston Rockets the previous night..

Immanuel Quickley scored 29 points and Gary Trent Jr. added 23 for the Raptors, who have won just once in the last five games. Toronto (23-41) was coming off a 120 -113 loss at the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

Quickley's layup cut the deficit to 109-111 with just over a minute left in regulation before Matisse Thybulle's layup for Portland made it another four-point lead. Chris Boucher made a pair of free throws for Toronto with 23.1 seconds left to cut it back down to two.

After a jump ball, Toronto sent a flurry of shots before Boucher's layup tied it with 0.7 seconds left. Portland inbounded the ball to Ayton under the net, but his attempt rimmed out to send the game to overtime.

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Ayton dunked to open the extra period. Simons' 3 pushed the lead to 120-113 and Toronto could no longer keep up as the Blazers ended up winning in double figures.

Deandre Ayton starts off OT with the lob finish!

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Ayton and rookie Scoot Henderson both returned after extended absences in this game. Henderson missed eight games with an adductor injury. Henderson was on a minutes restriction but scored nine points in his first four minutes.

Portland was still without Jerami Grant (right hamstring) , Jabari Walker (right hip) and Malcolm Brogdon (right elbow). Shaedon Sharpe was out after core surgery.