Avdija's Blazers Lose NBA Cup Opener Despite Strong Start

Deni Avdija and the Portland Trail Blazers suffered a narrow 124-118 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers in their NBA Cup debut, despite holding a 16-point lead in the second quarter. The comeback was spearheaded by Luka Dončić, who nearly carried his team single-handedly. Avdija was on track for a triple-double, finishing with 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists, but was hampered by a season-high and concerning 8 turnovers. This marks a significant increase from his season average, as he had previously lost no more than three balls per game.

Coach Mikey Neuber attributed some turnovers to risky passes into the paint and a lack of caution. Another worrying trend for Avdija is his free-throw percentage, which has dropped to 66.3% this season, the lowest since his rookie year, despite him attempting more free throws per game than ever before. His three-point shooting has also declined, standing at 31% for the season, down from 37.4% last year.

Neuber analyzed the turning point of the game, noting a costly offensive foul by Avdija late in the first half that allowed the Lakers to cut the lead. He also acknowledged the team's mental resilience in staying competitive despite 24 turnovers and allowing 17 offensive rebounds. Regarding how to defend Dončić, Neuber explained the challenge of his improved step-back jumper and the strategic decision to force him right, which initially worked but ultimately couldn't contain his prolific scoring, which included 33 field goal attempts and 18 free throws.