The Blazers are 9-1 in the last ten games, tied for the best record in the league over that stretch. Head coach Chauncey Billups and his staff have lit a fire under this squad, and it’s certainly translated to success on the court, especially on the defensive end.

Portland is currently riding a five-game win streak, picking up back-to-back wins over the Phoenix Suns before routing the Indiana Pacers 112-89 on Tuesday night. In their previous 14 games, the Pacers were 12-2 and averaged 119.9 points per game while shooting 50.4% from the field.

The 89 points scored by the Pacers is their second-lowest output in 2024-25, and they hadn’t been held to fewer than 100 points since Dec. 4 in Brooklyn. The Blazers were suffocating all night, holding the Pacers to just 42.0% shooting from the field and 20.8% (5-for-24) from three-point range. They forced 19 turnovers in the wire-to-wire victory.

When you take a look at the numbers on defense behind their recent stretch of improved play, the picture becomes crystal clear. Over the last ten games, Portland leads the Association in defensive rating (104.7), net rating (12.7), rebounding percentage (53.2), opponent’s effective field goal percentage (49.1), points in the paint (42.2) and fast break points allowed (8.9).

Toumani Camara has been an integral piece of the Blazers’ turnaround, culminating in his selection for this year’s Castrol Rising Stars at the upcoming All-Star Weekend. He’s averaging 12.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals while shooting 62.3% from the field and 53.6% from long range in his last nine games. His +15.9 plus-minus in 36.0 minutes a night is the best figure in the NBA over this same stretch of games.

Deandre Ayton is the big man in the middle who’s been pivotal in Portland’s dominance on the boards. Over his last seven games, all wins for the Blazers, Ayton is putting up 19.6 points, 12.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals while shooting 59.8% from the floor in 33.8 minutes. In their overtime win against the Suns on Monday, the seventh-year center finished with 25 points and a season-high 20 rebounds, pulling down nine offensive boards in the process. His +15.0 plus-minus is second to only Camara in the last ten games.

Despite being one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now, the Blazers still seem to be flying under the radar. They are playing some of the best basketball in the league right now, and it starts with their defense.