Avdija Shines with Second Triple-Double as Trail Blazers Defeat Hawks, Aims for Improvement

Deni Avdija recorded his second career triple-double, helping the Portland Trail Blazers secure a victory against the Atlanta Hawks, winning 127-113 at State Farm Arena.

The 24-year-old Israeli forward finished the game with an impressive stat line: 32 points, 15 assists, and 10 rebounds, along with two assists. After the game, he acknowledged the effort of his teammates during a media session, saying, “Achieving a triple-double isn’t simple. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates. However, I need to improve my ball security and refine some areas of my game. It’s enjoyable to win; that’s the main thing.”

Teammate Toumani Camara, who also started the game, downplayed concerns about a minor arm injury after contributing 18 points, two steals, two rebounds, one block, and one assist. He noted the team was missing several players and added, “Everyone is stepping up and doing their part. Deni’s significant contribution was crucial for us.” Meanwhile, Rayan Rupert saw only 69 minutes of action without finding the score sheet, and Sidy Cissoko did not play.

For the Hawks, Vit Krejci from the Czech Republic came off the bench to score 13 points, grab seven rebounds, and provide two assists. French starter Zaccharie Risacher contributed nine points, three rebounds, two blocks, and two assists. Swiss player Clint Capela was sidelined due to a left fourth metacarpal ligament sprain and is expected to miss the entirety of the 2024-25 season.

At Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 105-91, with O.G. Anunoby leading the charge with 27 points, five rebounds, and two steals. Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau remarked on Anunoby’s effective gameplay, stating, “He’s currently showcasing a fantastic combination of skills—attacking the basket, drawing fouls, and shooting high-volume threes without hesitation. It’s impressive basketball, and his defense is at an elite level.”

In terms of European players for the Knicks, French Pacome Dadiet was assigned to the Westchester Knicks in the G League, while German Ariel Hukporti remained injured due to a left knee surgery. For the 76ers, French Guerschon Yabusele was unavailable with right knee soreness. However, Turkish Adem Bona, starting at center for coach Nick Nurse, made an impact with nine points, eight rebounds, three blocks, two steals, and two assists.

German Franz Wagner led the Orlando Magic with 24 points, seven assists, and five rebounds as they came back to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 116-105 at Frost Bank Center. His brother Moritz is still recovering from left knee surgery, and fellow German Tristan da Silva did not participate. Georgian Goga Bitadze managed two points, six rebounds, one block, and one assist in just under 12 minutes.

The Spurs faced challenges as Polish Jeremy Sochan was a late scratch due to lower back spasms, joining French Victor Wembanyama, who is dealing with right shoulder deep vein thrombosis, on the injured list. This left Sandro Mamukelashvili as the only European option for interim head coach Mitch Johnson, but the 25-year-old forward/center could only muster three points on 1-of-6 shooting in 19 minutes.

Meanwhile, Stephen Curry exploded for 52 points, including 12 three-pointers, and Draymond Green registered a triple-double as the Golden State Warriors defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 134-125 at FedExForum. Dutch player Quinten Post added nine points, one rebound, and one assist off the bench. For the team led by Finnish coach Tuomas Iisalo, Spanish player Santi Aldama contributed 18 points, six rebounds, one steal, and one assist.

The Toronto Raptors, under Serbian coach Darko Rajakovic, fell short against the Chicago Bulls, losing 137-118. Austrian center Jakob Poeltl recorded 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists. On the winning side, Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic achieved a noteworthy performance with 22 points, ten rebounds, seven assists, and one block, while Lithuanian Matas Buzelis added nine points, four steals, three rebounds, and one block.

Game scores:
– Atlanta Hawks 113 – Portland Trail Blazers 127
– New York Knicks 105 – Philadelphia 76ers 91
– San Antonio Spurs 105 – Orlando Magic 116
– Chicago Bulls 137 – Toronto Raptors 118
– Memphis Grizzlies 125 – Golden State Warriors 134
– Milwaukee Bucks 133 – Phoenix Suns 123
– Denver Nuggets 140 – Minnesota Timberwolves 139 (Double Overtime)

Current standings:
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 60-15
2. Boston Celtics 56-19
3. New York Knicks 48-27
4. Indiana Pacers 44-31
5. Detroit Pistons 42-33
6. Milwaukee Bucks 41-34
7. Orlando Magic 37-40
8. Atlanta Hawks 36-39
9. Miami Heat 34-41
10. Chicago Bulls 34-42
11. Toronto Raptors 28-48
12. Brooklyn Nets 25-51
13. Philadelphia 76ers 23-53
14. Charlotte Hornets 19-56
15. Washington Wizards 16-59

1. Oklahoma City Thunder 63-12
2. Houston Rockets 49-27
3. Denver Nuggets 47-29
4. Los Angeles Lakers 46-29
5. Golden State Warriors 44-31
6. Memphis Grizzlies 44-32
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 44-32
8. Los Angeles Clippers 43-32
9. Dallas Mavericks 37-39
10. Sacramento Kings 36-39
11. Phoenix Suns 35-41
12. Portland Trail Blazers 33-43
13. San Antonio Spurs 31-44
14. New Orleans Pelicans 21-54
15. Utah Jazz 16-60

– The top six teams from each conference secure a playoff spot.
– Teams ranked seventh to tenth will compete in the Play-Ins.

Note: “p” indicates clinched playoff berth; “e” indicates elimination.