Avdija Scores 23 in Preseason Opener as Trail Blazers Defeat Warriors
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Deni Avdija scored 23 points 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 and the debut of Jah Morant for Portland, while the Warriors were missing several key players. In other preseason games, Tyrese Haliburton returned for the Indiana Pacers in their win over Minnesota, and the Milwaukee Bucks narrowly defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Deni Avdija scored 23 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 123-118 preseason win over the Golden State Warriors.
- Damian Lillard returned to play for the Trail Blazers for the first time in over three years, scoring 15 points.
- The Golden State Warriors played with a severely depleted roster, missing stars like Steph Curry and Draymond Green.
- Tyrese Haliburton made his return after 16 months, contributing to the Indiana Pacers' 123-112 victory over Minnesota.
- The Milwaukee Bucks secured a 128-126 win against the Oklahoma City Thunder in their preseason opener.
The Portland Trail Blazers opened their preseason schedule with a 123-118 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. Israeli forward Deni Avdija led the Trail Blazers in scoring with 23 points, shooting 9-of-13 from the field and 3-of-6 from three-point range, in addition to 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 turnovers in 21 minutes. This game marked the debut for new Trail Blazers coach Mikey Neuber and player Jah Morant, acquired via trade. A significant moment for the home crowd was the return of Damian Lillard, playing for the Trail Blazers for the first time in nearly three and a half years. Lillard scored 15 points, including three first-quarter three-pointers, in 19 minutes. Morant's debut was more subdued, with 9 points on 3-of-9 shooting. Rob Williams also contributed with 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 blocks in just 14 minutes.
The Warriors played with a significantly depleted roster, missing key players such as Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Al Horford, Brandin Podziemski, De'Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton. Myles Cain was a standout for Golden State, scoring 24 points. Despite the Warriors' absences, Portland had to work hard for the win, with their largest lead only reaching 10 points in the final quarter. The Trail Blazers have two more preseason games scheduled: against Sacramento on October 14 and a rematch with Golden State three days later.
In other preseason action, Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton returned to the court after more than 16 months, helping his team to a 123-112 win against Minnesota. Haliburton played 16 minutes, scoring 7 points with 6 assists, a steal, and 2 blocks. He acknowledged the game's pace was challenging, stating, "It's the first game, but I have to slow down a bit. There was a lot of adrenaline and excitement. I was just happy to be there. It will come with time." Milwaukee defeated Oklahoma City 128-126, with Myles Turner leading the Bucks with 19 points, while rookie Adey Mara scored 15 for the Thunder.
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