Portland Stops Five-Game Slide While Toronto Suffers Eighth Consecutive Defeat

The Portland Fire ended their recent struggles on Thursday night, defeating the Toronto Tempo 97-83 and snapping a five-game losing streak.

Carla Leite delivered a dominant performance with 27 points and 11 assists, leading Portland’s offense and helping the Fire secure their second victory over Toronto this season.

The loss extended Toronto’s difficult stretch, as the Tempo dropped their eighth consecutive game and continued searching for answers during a challenging part of the season.

Leite Controls Game With Scoring and Playmaking

Leite was the driving force behind Portland’s offensive success.

The guard finished with:

27 points
11 assists
2 three-pointers made
15-of-17 shooting from the free-throw line

Her ability to create scoring opportunities for herself and teammates allowed Portland to maintain control throughout the game.

Leite had already scored 20 points by the end of the third quarter, helping the Fire build a comfortable advantage.

Fire Build Separation After Close First Quarter

The game remained competitive early, with Portland holding a narrow 25-23 lead after the opening quarter.

The Fire began pulling away in the second period when Frieda Buhner hit a three-pointer to give Portland its first double-digit lead at 45-35.

Leite then added a jumper in the final seconds of the half, sending Portland into halftime with a 51-37 advantage.

The Fire continued their momentum after the break, extending the lead to 81-59 by the end of the third quarter.

Portland Receives Balanced Scoring Support

While Leite led the way, Portland received contributions from several other players.

Megan DiLeo added:

17 points

Bridget Carleton recorded:

10 points
11 rebounds

Reserve forward Frieda Buhner also scored:

10 points

The balanced attack helped Portland overcome its recent offensive inconsistency.

Tempo Show Fight Despite Another Loss

Toronto struggled to keep pace but continued competing until the final minutes.

Nyara Sabally led the Tempo with:

17 points

Julie Allemand contributed:

11 points
12 assists

Aneesah Morrow provided a spark off the bench, scoring 11 points and cutting Portland’s lead to 91-83 with just over three minutes remaining.

However, the Fire closed the game strong and prevented Toronto from completing the comeback.

Toronto Continues Difficult Stretch

The loss dropped Toronto to 10-21, with the expansion franchise losing 12 of its last 13 games.

The Tempo have struggled to find consistency due to injuries, roster changes, and limited depth throughout the season.

Despite the recent results, younger players and new additions such as Aneesah Morrow continue gaining valuable experience.

Key Takeaways
Carla Leite Provides Star Performance

Leite’s combination of scoring and playmaking gave Portland the offensive leadership it needed to end its losing streak.

Fire Depth Makes Difference

Multiple Portland players contributed in key moments, allowing the team to maintain control after building its early advantage.

Tempo Need Defensive Improvement

Toronto allowed Portland to score efficiently and struggled to slow down the Fire’s offensive rhythm, especially during the middle quarters.

Final Score

Portland Fire 97, Toronto Tempo 83

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Upcoming Games

Toronto Tempo: Visit Atlanta Dream on Monday
Portland Fire: Host Seattle Storm on Saturday