SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Deni Avdija led the Trail Blazers with 26 points, six rebounds, and six assists in the Portland Trail Blazers 128-120 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Friday.
Damian Lillard and Toumani Camara scored 19 points each and helped the Trail Blazers improve to 2-0.
Rookie Darius Acuff Jr. scored 33 points, while Domantas Sabonis had 27 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists for the Kings (0-2) in their home opener. Zach LaVine added 22 points.
The Kings had a 12-point lead after LaVine made three free throws midway through the 1st quarter and held a 64-59 lead at halftime.
The Trail Blazers got off to a hot start in the third quarter with, starting on a 15-0 run, capped off by a 3-point basket by Camara for a 74-64 lead.
Portland made 8 of 19 shots from 3-point range in the third quarter after a making only 4 of 22 from distance in the first half.
Sacramento cut the lead 121-118 on a 3-pointer by Sabonis with 3:21 left to play in the fourth quarter. Donovan Clignan's late basket and two free throws, along with Avdija adding another free throw with 43.5 seconds left kept sealed the win for the Trail Blazers
Trail Blazers: Face the Los Angeles Lakers on the road at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday.
Kings: Play the Memphis Grizzlies at home on Sunday.
See AP’s full NBA coverage here
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Micah Nori calls to the team as they transition to defense during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Portland Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant (1) attempts a layup over Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija, center, drives to the basket with Sacramento Kings guards Emanuel Sharp (34) and Malik Monk (0) defending during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s military has regained full use of Starlink satellite links for its drones and other fast-moving equipment, the defense minister said Saturday, ending speed restrictions that Ukrainian officials said had disrupted front-line operations for more than a week.
The restoration comes as U.S. envoys launched a new push to end the war. Russia agreed Wednesday to resume three-way negotiations with Washington and Kyiv next month. On Friday, Kyiv and Moscow also agreed to a localized ceasefire brokered by first lady Melania Trump around Oleshky, a war-ravaged, Russian-occupied town in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region.
The Defense Ministry’s monitoring systems in Ukraine reported stable connections on objects traveling faster than 400 kph (250 mph), Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara told reporters.
The limitations placed on Starshield — SpaceX’s military-grade version of the Starlink satellite internet service and the backbone of Ukraine’s drone operations and communication — last week alarmed the country’s military and government officials, with commanders reporting lost drones and disrupted missions.
The episode added to tensions between Kyiv and Washington, a relationship already strained by President Donald Trump’s reported deal with Moscow on Russian diesel imports, which Ukraine viewed as a betrayal.
Khmara credited “direct dialogue” and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s diplomacy with Washington, adding that the outcome mattered most “for our front, for the military, the work of drones, logistics and communications.”
Zelenskyy on Friday said Ukraine was still experiencing Starlink and Starshield speed limits.
Questions have persisted since last week about who ordered the interruptions to the Elon Musk-made satellite internet system that Ukraine has relied on for years to counter Moscow’s attacks.
Trump has maintained that he didn’t make the call, while also saying Musk should not be blamed. Vice President JD Vance has hinted at White House coordination with Musk, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have denied any administration involvement.
Meanwhile, a man was killed and two others wounded in a missile attack on the city of Lozova in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, local officials said Saturday.
Moscow-installed authorities in cities across Russia-occupied Crimea reported power blackouts Saturday following overnight Ukrainian attacks.
Ukraine’s General Staff said Saturday that its forces hit a chemical plant in the Russian city of Tolyatti, which produces materials used in rocket fuel. Tolyatti Mayor Ilya Sukhikh said the overnight attack damaged industrial facilities in the city.
Ukrainian forces also hit an electronics plant in the city of Oryol, Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed Saturday. Local officials in Oryol said Saturday that three people were killed in Friday’s attack. The General Staff said the plant makes components for the cruise and ballistic missiles Russia fires at Ukrainian cities.
Morton reported from London.
Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy answers media questions before his meeting with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
