Deni Avdija returned from injury exactly as the Portland Trail Blazers needed him to, delivering another emphatic statement in what is increasingly shaping up to be a full-fledged breakout season.
After missing three games with a lower back strain, the 25-year-old Israeli forward was dominant in his return, leading the Trail Blazers to a 117-110 road victory over the Sacramento Kings for their third straight win.
Avdija was the central figure throughout the night, finishing with 30 points to go along with eight rebounds and eight assists in just 31 minutes. He shot 10-of-18 from the field, hit all eight of his free throws and looked sharp and in complete control from the opening tip. Any concern about rust quickly disappeared as he poured in 15 points in the first eight minutes of the game, reaching 20 before halftime. In the closing moments, with Sacramento attempting a late push, Avdija calmly knocked down key free throws to seal the outcome.
The win came under challenging circumstances for Portland, which was playing the second night of a back-to-back and was without Jrue Holiday, Jerami Grant and Robert Williams III. Despite the absences, the Blazers controlled much of the game, building and maintaining a double-digit lead for long stretches. Even when the Kings closed the gap in the final five minutes, Avdija’s poise and decision-making steadied Portland down the stretch.
Beyond the box score, Avdija dictated the tempo, made smart reads and impacted the game on both ends of the court. His performance only reinforced Portland’s growing view of him as a foundational piece, while continuing to fuel league-wide discussion about his rapid rise and potential future All-Star consideration.
A team resurgence
The victory also fit into a broader team resurgence. Portland improved to 22-22, evening its record while winning eight of its last 10 games and 12 of its last 15. For a team that had struggled to find consistency earlier in the season, the Blazers are now beginning to look stable and confident, with Avdija’s return symbolizing that upward trend.
Shaedon Sharpe added 27 points and seven rebounds, Donovan Clingan recorded a dominant 21-point, 17-rebound performance, and Toumani Camara chipped in 17 points on perfect shooting from the field. Portland led 64-53 at halftime and weathered a late Sacramento run that briefly threatened the result. A successful coach’s challenge overturned what was initially ruled a Kings basket in the final minutes, and timely scores from Sharpe and Avdija soon after put the game out of reach.
On the Sacramento side, Russell Westbrook finished with 23 points and seven assists, Malik Monk scored 23, Zach LaVine added 18 and DeMar DeRozan contributed 14. Domantas Sabonis, still working his way back from injury, posted eight points, eight rebounds and six assists in 20 minutes off the bench as the Kings saw a four-game winning streak snapped.
Avdija, who has now scored 30 or more points for the 12th time this season, continued to showcase his diverse offensive arsenal with strong drives, smooth finishes and creative passing. After the performance, attention quickly turned to the upcoming All-Star selections, with Avdija hoping to hear his name among the chosen players later in the week.
Portland will now enjoy several days of rest before returning to action on Friday night, when it hosts the Miami Heat, looking to continue its climb and build further momentum with Avdija firmly back at the center of it all.