Avdijas Stellar Performance Propels Blazers to Victory Over Grizzlies

The Portland Trail Blazers narrowly avoided squandering a significant 21-point advantage but ultimately secured a 115-99 win against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Moda Center.

Deni Avdija delivered an exceptional performance on Wednesday, leading the team under coach Chauncey Billups. The 24-year-old Israeli forward notched a double-double with 31 points and 16 rebounds, in addition to contributing eight assists and two blocks.

“I’m just playing my game,” he stated during a post-game interview on the court. “I always emphasize that I ‘work hard’ and ‘play hard’. That’s my approach. The coaching staff has my back and places me in situations where I can excel. I couldn’t achieve this without my teammates.”

After missing the last game due to right calf soreness, Belgian Toumani Camara returned to the starting lineup, scoring 15 points along with three rebounds and two assists.

Among his French teammates, Rayan Rupert played two minutes without scoring, while Sidy Cissoko continues a G League assignment with the Rip City Remix. Santi Aldama, returning for the Grizzlies after a six-game absence due to a right calf strain, contributed 16 points, five rebounds, and one assist.

Turkish player Alperen Sengun recorded a solid double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds, along with four assists, leading the Houston Rockets to their eighth consecutive victory with a win over the Orlando Magic, 116-108, at Kia Center. For the Magic, Germany’s Franz Wagner posted 20 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, while Georgian Goga Bitadze added 19 points and eight rebounds. German Tristan da Silva managed two points, two assists, and two rebounds. German Moritz Wagner was unavailable due to left knee surgery.

French player Alex Sarr delivered 22 points, nine rebounds, two steals, and two assists, while Serbian Tristan Vukcevic scored 17 points, captured five rebounds, and secured two steals, but the Washington Wizards fell to the Utah Jazz, 128-112, at Delta Center. Unfortunately, French teammate Bilal Coulibaly is on the injury list with a right hamstring strain and is anticipated to miss the remainder of the season. For the Jazz, Lauri Markkanen (personal reasons) and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (right foot strain) were both sidelined.

Despite several absences, with German Isaiah Hartenstein (lower back spasms), French Ousmane Dieng (left calf strain), Belgian Ajay Mitchell (right great toe surgery), and Serbian Nikola Topic (left knee surgery) on the injured list, the Oklahoma City Thunder triumphed over the Philadelphia 76ers, 133-100, at Paycom Center. Returning for the Sixers, French Guerschon Yabusele (right knee soreness) registered 11 points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal, while Turkish Adem Bona (left ankle sprain) remained out.

A clutch three-pointer from Cade Cunningham secured a 116-113 victory for the Detroit Pistons against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center. German Dennis Schroder contributed eight points, three assists, one block, and one rebound, while Italian Simone Fontecchio added two points and two rebounds. Swedish player Bobi Klintman was still on assignment with the G League’s Motor City Cruise. For the Heat, Serbian Nikola Jovic (right hand fracture) was unavailable, while Swedish Pelle Larsson logged three minutes with one assist.

Devin Booker shone with 41 points, leading the Phoenix Suns to a 127-121 win over the Chicago Bulls at PHX Arena. Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic managed 24 points, six rebounds, three blocks, and two assists for the visitors, while starting Lithuanian Matas Buzelis finished with five points, one steal, and one assist. Serbian Vasilije Micic remained on the bench for the victorious Suns.

Without Lithuanian star Domantas Sabonis (right ankle sprain), the Sacramento Kings edged past the Cleveland Cavaliers, 123-119, at Golden 1 Center. Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas stepped up with a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds, along with two assists.

**Game Results:**
– Indiana Pacers 135 – Dallas Mavericks 131
– Orlando Magic 108 – Houston Rockets 116
– Miami Heat 113 – Detroit Pistons 116
– Minnesota Timberwolves 115 – New Orleans Pelicans 119
– Oklahoma City Thunder 133 – Philadelphia 76ers 100
– San Antonio Spurs 120 – New York Knicks 105
– Utah Jazz 128 – Washington Wizards 112
– Los Angeles Lakers 120 – Denver Nuggets 108
– Phoenix Suns 127 – Chicago Bulls 121
– Portland Trail Blazers 115 – Memphis Grizzlies 99
– Sacramento Kings 123 – Cleveland Cavaliers 119

**Standings:**
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 56-13
2. Boston Celtics 50-19
3. New York Knicks 43-25
4. Indiana Pacers 39-39
5. Milwaukee Bucks 38-30
6. Detroit Pistons 39-31
7. Atlanta Hawks 33-36
8. Orlando Magic 32-28
9. Chicago Bulls 29-40
10. Miami Heat 29-40
11. Toronto Raptors 24-45
12. Brooklyn Nets 23-46
13. Philadelphia 76ers 23-46
14. Charlotte Hornets 17-51
15. Washington Wizards 15-53

1. Oklahoma City Thunder 57-12
2. Houston Rockets 45-25
3. Los Angeles Lakers 43-25
4. Denver Nuggets 44-26
5. Memphis Grizzlies 43-27
6. Golden State Warriors 40-29
7. Los Angeles Clippers 39-30
8. Minnesota Timberwolves 40-31
9. Sacramento Kings 35-33
10. Phoenix Suns 33-37
11. Dallas Mavericks 33-37
12. Portland Trail Blazers 31-39
13. San Antonio Spurs 29-39
14. New Orleans Pelicans 19-51
15. Utah Jazz 16-54

– The top six teams from each conference earn a spot in the playoffs.
– Teams ranked seventh through tenth move on to the Play-Ins.