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Sunday, January 4, 2026
Deni Avdija’s triple-double helps Portland Trail Blazers down San Antonio Spurs
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Israeli NBA star Deni Avdija amassed a 29-point, 11-rebound, 10-assist triple-double that included a key 3-pointer in the final minute to help the visiting Portland Trail Blazers hold on for a 115-110 win over the short-handed San Antonio Spurs last night.
Both teams were playing the second game of a back-to-back, but it was Portland that responded the best.
The Trail Blazers led by four points at halftime and by seven after three periods behind Donovan Clingan and Avdija. Portland quickly expanded its advantage to 93-80 a minute and a half into the fourth quarter, but the Spurs were far from finished.
San Antonio drew to within 105-103 on Luke Kornet’s dunk with 3:14 to play. Avdija and Toumani Camara hit 3-pointers on the Trail Blazers’ next two possessions before a Stephon Castle dunk off a De’Aaron Fox steal closed the gap to 111-110 with 1:36 left.
Avdija responded with another 3-pointer to make it a four-point game, but Caleb Love missed a pair of free throws with 21.7 seconds to play, leaving the door open just slightly for San Antonio. The Spurs could not take advantage and had a two-game winning streak snapped.
Clingan finished with a career-high 24 points along with 10 rebounds, while Camara scored 20 points. Love had 16 off the bench, and Portland won for the second consecutive game and for the fourth time in its past five contests.
The Times of Israel Community.