Deni Avdija's Minutes Allocation Sparks Intrigue in Trail Blazers' Season Opener

The Portland Trail Blazers kicked off their 2026-27 NBA season with a dominant 124-83 victory over the Phoenix Suns in a one-sided game. While the team showcased excellent basketball from the outset, the minute allocation in their first game provided an interesting glimpse into the team's plans, particularly concerning Israeli player Deni Avdija.

Avdija, who was initially questionable for the game, started alongside Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Toumani Camara, and Donovan Clingan. He played the first six minutes of the game before heading to the bench for his first rest, along with Lillard. Lillard returned to the court after about two minutes, while Avdija remained on the bench until the end of the quarter.

A similar rotation pattern was observed in the second quarter, with both Avdija and Lillard resting after approximately six minutes. This time, however, their return order was reversed, with Avdija coming back to the floor after about two minutes and Lillard rejoining shortly before the quarter's end.

In the third quarter, both players again took a break after about six minutes of play, but returned together with three minutes remaining in the period. With the game's outcome decided, neither Lillard nor Avdija played in the final quarter. In total, Lillard logged 24 minutes, and Avdija played 23 minutes.

This distribution suggests that coach Mika Nouri may be considering a significant role for the combination of Lillard and Avdija. They received comparable playing time throughout the first three quarters, while Morant, who also started, played during periods when the other two stars were resting. Although it is too early to draw definitive conclusions from a single game, especially one with such a large score differential, this rotation could offer an initial insight into Nouri's strategy for the upcoming season.