NBA: Israeli Deni Avdija shines with 24 points, leads Portland to victory
Avdija did most of his scoring before halftime, pouring in 19 points to help Portland build a 59–42 lead at the break
Deni Avdija continued his strong start to the NBA season on Saturday, scoring 24 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 112–90 victory over the Utah Jazz.
The 25-year-old Israeli forward added five rebounds, two assists and a steal in 30 minutes. He shot 6-for-12 from the field, including two three-pointers, and made 10 of his 13 free throws.
Avdija did most of his scoring before halftime, pouring in 19 points to help Portland build a 59–42 lead at the break.
The Trail Blazers took control early, using strong defense to fuel a 17–0 first-quarter run. Their advantage grew to 26 points in the third quarter, leaving Utah with little chance of a comeback.
Damian Lillard contributed 22 points, while Toumani Camara, Scoot Henderson and Jrue Holiday finished with 14 apiece.
Avdija has now scored at least 18 points in each of Portland’s first five games. Averaging 23 points, roughly seven rebounds and 5.6 assists, he has emerged as a key figure in the team’s offense.
Portland improved to 4–1 and will face the Denver Nuggets on Monday night.