Portland's Experiment With Deni Avdija Fails Quickly in Loss
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
The Portland Trail Blazers lost to the Memphis Grizzlies 103-124, with Israeli player Deni Avdija scoring 24 points. An experimental lineup featuring Avdija as a taller player failed quickly in the third quarter. The Grizzlies pulled away with a 10-0 run while Avdija was on the bench, and Portland's defense collapsed in the second half. The Trail Blazers' next game is against Utah on Saturday.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Deni Avdija led Portland with 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists in a 103-124 loss to Memphis.
- An experimental Portland lineup with Avdija as a taller player was quickly abandoned.
- Memphis secured the win with a decisive 10-0 run in the third quarter.
- Portland's defense struggled significantly in the second half, allowing 66 points.
- The Trail Blazers' record dropped to 1-3 following the defeat.
The Portland Trail Blazers, despite high hopes, suffered a significant 103-124 defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night, dropping their season record to 1-3. Avdija was the leading scorer for Portland with 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists, but struggled from three-point range and the free-throw line. Local Oregon media noted that an experimental lineup by coach Chauncey Billups, featuring Avdija and Sir'Dominic Cisse as the tallest players, was quickly shut down by the Grizzlies' Zach Edey. This lineup change was necessitated by the absence of backup center Robert Williams.
The game remained close through the first half, with scores tied at 25-25 after the first quarter and 58-58 at halftime. However, a 10-0 run by Memphis in the third quarter, which began when Avdija had narrowed the deficit to 75-71, shifted the momentum decisively. The Grizzlies extended their lead to 75-87 while Avdija was on the bench, and Portland was unable to recover. Notably, Ja Morant was also off the court during this Memphis run, while Damian Lillard entered the game after Memphis had already scored eight unanswered points.
Portland's defense, which had shown improvement in the first half after a poor showing against the Lakers, faltered significantly in the second half. The Grizzlies scored 66 points after halftime, overwhelming Portland's defense. The article suggests that if the Trail Blazers continue to defend at this level, their chances of remaining competitive will be slim. Portland's next game is scheduled for Saturday night against Utah.
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