Avdija Leads Trail Blazers Past Warriors in Preseason Opener
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Deni Avdija scored 23 points in 21 minutes to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 123-118 preseason victory over the Golden State Warriors. The game also featured the return of Damian Lillard after a long injury layoff and the debut of Ja Morant for Portland. The Warriors were missing several key players. Portland will play two more preseason games before opening the regular season on October 22.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Deni Avdija led the Portland Trail Blazers to a 123-118 preseason win over the Golden State Warriors with 23 points.
- Avdija scored a game-high 23 points in just 21 minutes during the Trail Blazers' preseason opener.
- Damian Lillard returned to play after 528 days due to injury, contributing 15 points.
- Ja Morant made his official debut for the Trail Blazers, scoring 8 points and adding 5 assists.
- The Golden State Warriors were without nine key rotation players, including Stephen Curry.
- Portland's next preseason games are against Sacramento on October 14 and Golden State on October 17.
Israeli forward Deni Avdija kicked off the 2026-27 NBA preseason with a dominant performance, leading the Portland Trail Blazers to a 123-118 victory over the Golden State Warriors. In just 21 minutes, Avdija was the game's leading scorer with 23 points, showcasing the form that concluded his "dream" All-Star season. He scored the first basket for Portland and was instrumental in establishing an early lead, finishing with an efficient 9-of-13 from the field, including 3-of-6 from three-point range. Avdija also contributed two rebounds and two assists, demonstrating his confidence and asserting his role as a primary leader for the team.
The game marked the highly anticipated debut of Portland's new "Big 3." Damian Lillard returned to the Moda Center after a 528-day absence due to an Achilles tendon tear, scoring 15 points. Ja Morant also made his official debut for the Oregon-based team, adding 8 points and 5 assists. The Trail Blazers held a halftime lead of 57-50 and extended their advantage to a game-high 12 points.
Despite the Warriors missing nine key rotation players, including Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Al Horford, and Gary Payton II, they remained competitive until the final minutes. Miles Kelly led Golden State with 24 points, and Dalen Terry added 23.
Portland's preseason schedule includes two more games: against the Sacramento Kings on October 14 and a rematch with the Golden State Warriors on October 17. The regular season officially begins on October 22, with the Trail Blazers and Avdija facing the Phoenix Suns.
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