Deni Avdija Stars With 24 Points, Portland Suffers First Loss
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Israeli NBA player Deni Avdija scored 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists, but his Portland Trail Blazers lost their first game of the season 124-103 to the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies secured their fifth consecutive win, with rookie Cameron Boozer recording a triple-double. Portland's Damian Lillard struggled with only 9 points, and Ja Morant left with a hamstring injury. Avdija maintains strong season averages despite the team's loss.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Deni Avdija recorded 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists in Portland's loss.
- Portland Trail Blazers suffered their first loss of the season, 124-103, to Memphis.
- Memphis rookie Cameron Boozer achieved his first career NBA triple-double.
- Ja Morant left the game with a hamstring injury in the final quarter.
- Damian Lillard scored only 9 points on poor shooting for Portland.
Israeli NBA star Deni Avdija delivered an impressive individual performance with 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists, but it wasn't enough to secure a win for the Portland Trail Blazers. The team suffered its first loss of the season on Thursday night, falling 124-103 to the Memphis Grizzlies on their home court. Avdija, who started the game, played 32 minutes and was Portland's leading scorer, shooting 8-of-16 from the field and 8-of-12 from the free-throw line, though he struggled from three-point range, going 0-for-4. He also recorded one block and committed no turnovers.
The game began evenly, with both teams entering with perfect records. Portland had won its first three games, while Memphis had won four in a row. The first quarter ended in a 25-25 tie, and the second quarter was also close, with the score at 58-58 at halftime. Avdija had already scored 13 points by halftime.
However, the second half saw Memphis increase its intensity, capitalizing on Portland's missed shots to build a lead. The Grizzlies finished the third quarter up 91-83 and extended their advantage in the final period to secure a 21-point victory. Memphis rookie Cameron Boozer was a standout, achieving his first career NBA triple-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists.
Portland struggled to get significant production from its other stars. Ja Morant, playing against his former team for the first time since a summer trade, scored 14 points in 23 minutes before leaving the game in the final quarter due to a hamstring injury. Damian Lillard had a disappointing night, scoring only 9 points on 3-of-13 shooting. A notable statistic for Portland was their three-point shooting, making only 12 of 49 attempts, compared to Memphis's 18 three-pointers at 42.9% accuracy.
Despite the loss, Avdija continues to post impressive numbers early in the season. In the first four games, he is averaging 22.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists, following a previous game where he scored 23 points and added 9 assists in a 136-129 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
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